The unrest that has happened in Ferguson, MO over the last nine days has been surreal for me. Why? Because I am a 16.5 year resident of Ferguson, MO. I moved into my home on December 20, 1997, and have been proud to call my neighborhood and my community “home” ever since.
What has happened to my community since 12:04 p.m. on Saturday, August 9th has been indescribable. To see the violence, unrest, anger, disappointment, fear, determination, unification, boldness, courage, corruption, ineptness, greed, stupidity, power, love and support has been an incredible reminder of how imperfect human beings are. How people’s paths can cross, but be occupied by very different agendas.
Currently, I live in a tale of two cities. Where I reside, it’s quiet, calm and business as usual. However, 1.5 miles down the most talked about street in the country right now, W. Florissant Avenue, it’s been a different world – calm during the day, various forms and degrees of activity at night.
I have been in the midst of the protesters twice and part of the clean up once since the tragic killing of Michael Brown took place. While there have been a few bad apples invading our community to loot and create unwelcomed disruption, the people I have had the pleasure of interacting with have been cordial, inviting, determined and diverse! Yes, diverse – old and young, male and female, black and white. It has reminded me of the Ferguson, MO I have enjoyed over the years.
So, what does this have to do with the usual career-related posts I normally give you? I can’t help but think about how one wrong gesture can kill your career opportunities, just like what may have been one wrong gesture by Michael Brown (walking down the middle of the street) may have been what ended up killing his future and life. Our actions are so important. They can work to catapult us forward or be the very thing that brings about our demise.
If you want success from your career, as best you can, focus all of your actions towards success. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by petty things, petty people, or petty situations. Michael Brown was two days away from the beginning of a new chapter in his life to start his college career, but because he got distracted by pettiness, his book has written its final chapter.
Until next time….