How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. – George Washington Carver
While doing this consulting gig, I’m always paying some attention to figuring out who’s striving, who’s bored, who’s influential, who’s ignored. As I thought about this quote, it occurred to me that this week I’ve been unconsciously gravitating towards people I thought were the influential/power types, and how much I tend to ignore those I presumed to be lower on the ladder. Some of this is understandable, as I want to have some influence on the organization. But some of it is just insecurity… that I’ll somehow “be somebody” important if I can hobnob with those I deem to be important.