I’m deeply saddened and sickened by what was done to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and all who’ve been killed or treated badly because of the color of their skin. I’m appalled that it’s 2020 and we’re still dealing with heartless bias.
As I think about the changes needed to make this stop, I am reminded of this old saying:
80% of I can’t… is I don’t want to.
To effect change, we have to really want the outcome we can see in our minds. It starts with a thought, a mental vision of something we can see as possible. It percolates in the mind, creating a vision of the future positively impacted by that change. It takes expressing our thoughts. Listening to others. Making adjustments. Bringing others along. Engaging the energy of those who are in it with us. Describing to those who have difficulty seeing its value.
We can make a difference in our world if we want to. But we have to ask ourselves the question… Do we want to?
How we interact with people who are different from us, how we listen to their perspective, how we express our thoughts, all make a difference. Our behaviors model to others what we believe is important.
Leaders who want to effect change don’t give up. It may take longer than we hope to make the difference we want to make, but sticking with it, bringing in others’ expertise, staying open-minded, are critical to its future outcome.
We have the capability to be better, to do better, to lead in a thoughtful, cohesive, collective, fair and future-focused way.
But, we have to ask ourselves what we really want, and are we committed to making it happen?
Because when we really want something, we find a way to make it happen.
What can we do individually to make a difference? What can we do collectively? We can do this. Let’s start today.
