Lesson 94: Family
About the Searcher
One of the greatest tragedies is to be alone. One night, I was stranded on the side of the highway in India. Cars zoomed past me as my brain tried not to panic so it could think of what to do next. I could not stand there forever, so I started waving at the drivers to stop. One car pulled into the shoulder of the road and rolled down the window: “Where are you going?” My first trip to India turned into my first time hitch hiking.
Although I rode to my hostel with complete strangers, I was not alone in a sense. If my family did not hear from me, then it would take a small army to keep them from flying around the world to come get me. Family is important because they ensure you are never alone. In fact, when you need help the most they will be right there.
About Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
As a leader, I attempt to create a sense of community and confidence that feels like a family. I had coffee with a business owner this week, and he explained, “My team has become like a family.” He expressed a tremendous amount of compassion and gratitude for the people with whom he works.
This conversation reminds me of the 13th commitment in The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership:
“I commit to seeing all people and circumstances as allies that are perfectly suited to help me learn the most important things for my growth.”
A leader recognizes that people on their team can help them grow. The business owner’s compassion and gratitude for his people transcend the employer-employee relationship because he trusts them and gives them responsibility. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship that feels like a family.
About the Bigger Picture
My mission is to increase representation for Black leaders at the executive, investor, and board level.
Today was the last day of my course on Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition. The final project was proposing a business to acquire through a search fund. It is much much much much much much too late to give up on ETA and stand on the side of the road like I did in India. Our team allowed me to play the part of CEO while we walked a pair of investors through the deal.
However, I had lost my voice because of the recent weather change in Chicago. Thankfully, my team managed most of the talking, reminding me how people and circumstances are allies for my growth.
Although I was not 100% today, my team supported my mission to increase representation for Black leaders by granting me the role of CEO in our final project. ETA is often described as a lonely journey, which would be a tragedy since this is my dream. However, leadership requires me to build a group of allies who, like family, help me grow and ensure I am never alone.
This is Lesson 94: Family. Next week is Lesson 95: Feelings.
