My friend and colleague, Dr. Adolph Brown III, would always say to our staff and students, “You have a choice in the position you want to take in this organization and in life … Balcony or basement.” I will give you a moment to scratch your head on that one while I tell you the story of Mr. B and Ms. B.
Once upon a time, there were two people, Ms. B and Mr. B, who were very talented in their professions. They were both blessed by God to rise up in the ranks of their respective organizations. Many people helped them along the way toward their success. Soon they were in a position to reach out and touch others.
Let us first look at the type of help they received. They both came from a fairly traditional American home (if there is such a thing these days) you know … father, mother, sister, brother, dog, cat, food, clothing, and shelter. Neither were extremely poor or wealthy families—like I said, an average American family. They both did fairly well in school. However, school is also where they parted ways. You see, in school, their lives were not equal. Ms. B struggled because she was not very strong in math and science and she happened to have math and science teachers that felt it was not as important for girls to be strong in these subjects as boys. She had to work extremely hard to remain competitive and to keep her grades up. Mr. B did not have that issue; he was given a tutor and he was given extra attention concerning his future plans. No one was very impressed with Ms. B’s career choice and it showed in the amount of assistance she received from teachers and counselors.
Let’s move ahead a few years. Mr. B and Ms. B both graduated with honors and full scholarships to the university of their choice and in the fields of their choice. Again, Mr. B’s university catered to his academic needs by providing the necessary tools he needed to be success. Ms. B’s university also provided the same necessary tools, however, Ms. B chose a career that is not a traditional field for a woman; therefore, she was, again, not given the full attention of her advisors and counselors. Many times she was told that she might consider a less “arduous” field of study. However, she maintained her position and worked diligently toward her goal. The day came when both Mr. B and Ms. B graduated, again with honors in their respective fields. Throughout their careers they both had ups and downs, but were able to achieve their goals and were employed by the finest organizations.
Mr. B was able to move quickly because he was always in the right place at the right time. He was very competitive and very dogmatic in his approach to every situation. This attitude also was evident in his personal life, especially with his sons. He felt that their struggles were self-made because they did not press hard toward the mark. He offered some assistance but basically expected them to figure it out for themselves. After all, no one really helped him—he had to pull himself up by his own bootstraps. He studied and worked very hard to get where he is and they should do the same. At work, he had the same attitude with his staff. He felt it was not his responsibility to pull them up. Although his employers were very pleased with his work and his dedication to the organization, they were not impressed with his lack of interest in the needs of those less fortunate. He did not make himself available to help his staff and volunteered as little time as possible in the various community projects sponsored by his organization. His stance in life was that he worked hard to get where he was and others should do the same.
