AUGUST 12, 2022
Being an old history major and interested in how we all arrived at this point in our life, I enjoy the quote; “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus Garvey. One of the first questions in our workbook for our Foundational Band of Brothers is; “WHO are you and who are you becoming?” In learning to really know who we are, we need to all remember and understand “Where we came from” or our heritage. We all came from somewhere and we are all going somewhere. (Choose wisely and make sure you are on the right path) When we enter the career stage of our lives, many of us get confused or lose our way because we really didn’t understand or appreciate our own heritage, let alone, the heritage of others.
We are all the products of a culture. Culture refers simply to what is encouraged to grow, what is nurtured and developed by what was and is around you today. Imagine the possibilities here. You may be the child of a farmer, a teacher, a business leader, an attorney, or a blue-collar high school dropout. There are thousands of possibilities. What is important is the culture around you. Each of the lives of your friends, relatives, and co-workers came with hopes, dreams, values, rituals, possibly some wisdom, perceptions, biases, disciplines, along with some villains and heroes. In other words, certain things were encouraged to grow in these lives which may be good or bad. These are the things and relationships that will shape your leadership for years to come. Be careful what you learn because you may have to “unlearn” a few things that will keep you on a solid and righteous path.
In getting to know yourself, it is important to understand the culture that produced you. Who were your parents? Where did you live? What was your religious orientation? What was your financial status most of the time? What habits were encouraged? What was rewarded or celebrated? What were your schools like? Who were your friends? Did you have a job in school? What were your dreams? Don’t let your myopic attitude toward others and their cultures, demean or threaten a relationship. Try working together to seek understanding rather than judgment. Then keep moving forward.
Now you are part of an organization that has its own culture (if you are still working) which is more than likely more diverse and different from your own. Embrace, accept, and learn to understand others in your shared culture and life will be much more rewarding. You might just learn something from others and vice versa, that will enrich the relationship and make you think differently about the beauty in this world that God created. Don’t just get stuck in your own culture. If you want to grow as a child of God, broaden your heart and mind, add others that are different than you to your life, and learn to grow together.
Culture is everything! What are you doing to cultivate and encourage a good culture in your own life and organization? What are you doing to grow yourself in being part of a great forest that brings life to others? Remember, you need to honor your past but don’t become lost in it. Finally; “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C. S. Lewis.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” Stephen Covey