Phoenixes and Stones – My Dr. King Birthday Message

Recently, I was part of a meeting with peers and colleagues in the Automotive Fixed Operations Realm.  During this meeting I ask the question: “How many of us came from very meager beginnings?”  Many in the group raised their hands, I was the first to raise my hand, because this is the truth.  My life began with less than nothing if that is possible.  I went on to tell the group that every one of them are indeed Phoenixes.  Many in this group had risen from their meager beginnings to being giants in their industry. I applaud them and their efforts to be who they are today.

As many talked during our meeting, they admitted not being the best or the brightest to those whom lead them.  They were like mere bricks in a wall, not on the ends, but just overlooked like any random brick you would find in a wall. Their potential was overlooked, their desire to be more was not nurtured or recognized until one day someone looked at them and saw their potential.  Once this potential was recognized, they were given the opportunity to rise like Phoenix that they are. Their rise to greatness was not without support, trials, and tribulations.  Yet, it all started with someone recognizing their potential.  Regardless of if they were next at bat for a position or just filling a role and their leadership recognizing that they are/or were the person they had been looking for all along.

This meeting stayed with me, bouncing around in my head like a pail of ping pong balls.  As soon as I stop the balls from pinging, something would happen or I would hear something that caused the balls to start bouncing around again.  What started the balls to bounce was a phrase I heard while listening to an audio book this week during my travels. The name of the book was “The Invisible Generals” by Doug Melville.  In the book the phrase “I was the stone that the builder rejected”. This phrase made me think about myself and my colleagues.

My colleagues and myself have been the stones that the builders rejected for various reasons throughout life. Those reasons could be a range of many things.  We didn’t look like the builders, talk like them, walk like them or even seen as a possibility of being a crucial part of the builders success. Yet, something happened where these stones ended up being the cornerstones and/or keystones for many businesses and organizations.

We have many stones in our current businesses and organizations that are diamonds in the rough, we just must take the time to dust them off to see their full potential. Hence, the importance of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. If we were to look at our people in a different light, spend some time talking with them instead of at them we might find a cornerstone or two in our midst.  Believe me, they are there.

In the book, I also learned that these two Generals were masterminds and great at all that they did, but the powers to be, would not put them into positions of authority because they did now agree that these two Generals could or should oversee those that did not look like them. We are guilty of this in many organizations across the globe.  We often struggle to elevate women and minorities to high-ranking positions due to potential biases and preconceptions that may obscure our judgment.  These Women and Minorites might be the corner stones that we need in our organization.

It seems that we are hearing the whisper of the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion in our day-to-day lives.  This whisper has become a yell or even a scream.  This scream is not merely about race and colors, it has grown and taken on its own existence.   It is about accepting the bricks/stones that we have in our midst to build something bigger and better.  We must embrace people of all walks of life regardless of their ethnicity, sexuality or lifestyle, physical challenges, and upbringing. 

We must learn to embrace people for what they bring to the table. They bring themselves. Many are Phoenixes, they have risen from nothing and have had the life experiences that many at the top know nothing about. You want to see some budgeting skills?  Ask a single mother with multiple kids, with limited income how to make life work, keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and still send their child to college without the help of the government.  Those are skills that a Corporate CPA wished they had.

In conclusion, the insights gleaned from our meeting in the Automotive Fixed Operations Realm underscore a profound truth: the unrecognized potential within each individual. Our discussions, echoing the sentiments of Doug Melville's "The Invisible Generals," revealed a shared experience of being the overlooked stones, the ones initially dismissed by the builders. Yet, it is precisely these stones that have transformed into the cornerstones and keystones of numerous businesses and organizations. Our narratives are a testament to the resilience and unyielding spirit of the Phoenix, rising from humble beginnings to soar to great heights in our respective fields.

This journey of ascension, however, is not solitary. It begins with the crucial act of someone recognizing our potential, an act that ignites a path of growth, challenge, and support. The stories we shared are a powerful reminder of the diamonds in the rough present in our current workplaces, waiting to be discovered and polished. The key lies in embracing Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion – not just as concepts, but as actionable principles that guide how we interact with, understand, and uplift one another.

Our conversation also highlighted a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of organizational growth – the value of diverse perspectives and life experiences. By limiting leadership roles to a homogenous group, we miss out on the unique insights and skills brought by individuals from varied backgrounds. This diversity is not just about race or ethnicity; it encompasses a spectrum of experiences, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The single mother who has mastered the art of budgeting, the veteran who understands discipline and teamwork, the young graduate bringing fresh ideas – each person adds immeasurable value to the collective.

As we move forward, it is imperative that we not only hear but actively listen to the growing call for diversity, equality, and inclusion. This call is a clarion demand to recognize and embrace the full spectrum of human potential within our organizations. It's about seeing beyond the conventional and acknowledging that the true strength of any organization lies in its people – their diverse experiences, perspectives, and resilience. By doing so, we not only build stronger, more inclusive businesses but also create a society where every individual has the opportunity to rise, thrive, and contribute their best. Let us commit to being the builders who recognize the value in every stone, understanding that in the rich mosaic of humanity lies our greatest potential for success and innovation.

Vernon “Longhorn” Davis – 12 January 2024