In the year 2000 my wife and I joined some 3500 other walkers to go 67 miles (Leominster MA to Boston) in an event called the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day. You heard it, 67 miles in 3 days on 2 feet. In the ensuing two years we had occasion to serve as crew members, supporting the walkers. Our crew team ran a pit stop; our goal was to provide treats, fluids and moral support for the walkers; our team theme was tooth fairies (go to my website to see the pictures and the “rest of the story”. Sometimes you have to step outside of the comfort zone and adopt a less serious approach. At the end of those three days, despite the benefit of a megaphone I had no voice left. Let me tell you, it is some challenge to keep people charged when they are physically and emotionally worn. Let’s face it, these people walked for a lot of reasons. Some of them are breast cancer survivors themselves; others are walking in honor of loved ones lost to or still battling this devastating disease. For me, it was in memory of my Mom who had breast cancer yet died of other causes and a dear friend who battled the disease for many years, ultimately to succumb.
But this is not a sad story; in fact this experience was the most life-changing of my time on this earth. Each of my three years participating in this event I was fortunate to be amongst amazingly selfless people. To say I was humbled does not come close to describing the feelings that surged through me. The tears flowed freely as did the joy, the cheers and the hope. There is no place I would rather have been, no experience that would have satisfied me more profoundly. I discovered strength and passion in me I had no idea existed, not to mention what I learned of so many others.
OK, so what does this have to do with business anyway? Well, here are my thoughts. A business is first, about people; employees, clients, the public at large, and so on. The common denominator in business is people. Yet, when we get caught up in running a business (or for that matter being in business) it’s easy to lose our appreciation for those people upon whom our business depends. That is not something we can afford to do. My 3-Day experience taught me a lot about how I look at myself and at others. You have heard the old adage ‘walk a mile in my shoes’. How about walking a mile alongside yourself? What would that be like? Take a close look at your day to day. How does it feel? What would it be like to be your own employee, a client or even your boss? Do you know yourself this well? Do you have the nerve to? If you do I congratulate you as I suspect you are in the minority. If you do not, my challenge to you is that you start the journey. When you do, you will be enriched in ways you cannot imagine.
I know; it took me three days and 67 miles. Start walking...
To learn more about this author, visit Ed Drozda's Website.
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