The copulation of ideas? Hmmmm…. an interesting concept. While it’s a little weird at first to imagine, (little pencil drawn paragraphs making out and such) it makes sense though doesn’t it? One idea meets an another, to create another better idea, and wallllaaa!!! You have a result.
The celebrity driven culture we find ourselves in today has conditioned us, through various means, to celebrate the achievements of the individual. We praise and commend single persons for accomplishments that really, behind the curtain, are actually the fruits of a collective labor. We all know the phrase: “A rising tide raises all boats.” But how often do we really put that into use?
When I began my journey as an entrepreneur I got burnt, multiple times. I was enchanted with the possibilities; eager, hungry to learn and do well. My ambition and desire blinded me at times, and I’m not embarrassed to say I got taken for a ride on more than one occasion. But, to employ another great old phrase: “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.”
We learn as much if not more from our failures and our missteps. And I certainly learned my lessons. But I can say, without any hesitation whatsoever, that one of the most important lessons I ever learned was that WINNING doesn’t mean someone else has to LOSE.
TED talks (which I really just can’t get enough of by the way) presented a wonderful quick video by the author Matt Ridley about how, as he puts it: “….throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas happen.”
I think it’s important for us to recognize and remember that our efforts, and our successes, are infinitely greater when we work TOGETHER. When our resources, passions and expertise are COMBINED rather than hoarded to ourselves.
As we continue to work together, as a unified force, to pull our global citizens out of poverty, let us remember Aristotle’s old adage that the TMZ’s and gossip mags of the world would like us to forget: “THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS.”
All my best,
Jay Kubassek
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You’re meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp. Of course that’s a lesson you’ve obviously learned Jay. Thanks for your leadership!
P.S. Looks like Milo gets a sister, awesome! Nothing like daddy’s little girl eh? It’s so different from a son.Now you have TWO big “whys”. Take care!