Everyone Wants to Contribute

by Charles Bernard

Our blog theme this month is “Summer of Service,” which is dedicated to making a difference. 

I have said for many years that at the core of most people; after you peel away all the layers, is the fundamental desire to “contribute.”  Think about how great it feels when you have made an impact on others. 

I remember working on a client engagement in 2005 that lasted about one year.  I would face close to a three hour drive each way, on a monthly basis, sometimes twice a month.  The drives went by in a flash!

I was always excited to work with them.  It felt like a privilege to be granted the trust to lead critical planning and brainstorming meetings that really impacted the business.  Driving on my way there, my mind was focused on the communication barriers between the executives that needed to be removed.  On my way home, I often found myself fist-pumping the air as the goals got accomplished, one by one.  More importantly, I celebrated how people who had spent years involved in political wrangling; rarely reaching consensus, gave up personal positions and began working as a unified team.  Many days, I thought about taking “before” and “after” pictures, just so they could see the progress written on their faces!  More importantly, the firm’s revenue numbers started to track in a positive direction, reversing years of stagnant growth and losses.

I knew in my heart that I had contributed in a big way, but never needed nor wanted to take credit.  That might well have extinguished my inner glow!