32nd Edition
November 14, 2023
In one word
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be? Not how others would describe you, or even the most appropriate word, but more of an aspirational representation. For me that word is Professorial. Kind of like Indiana Jones’ dad. A cross between rumpled and debonair. To be worthy of that moniker, I’ve put together a syllabus in order to teach a college course titled – Business Ethics, Culture, and Leadership. I even sent it to the business school at my alma mater, the University of Michigan. The B-School is now called Michigan Ross. Here’s a brief description of my proposed course –
The premise of the course is that everyone leaves a legacy whether they are intentional about it or not. The course would challenge students to answer this basic question – Will your legacy be one that people will try to forget, or will yours be one that inspires future generations?
During the course I would share the four foundation posts for building a successful and meaningful business career: These are:
1. Developing a Personal Mission Statement
2. Forging your Non-Negotiables
3. Harnessing the Independence of Solitude
4. Embracing the Fruit of the Spirit
The course would cover each of these separately, through discussions based on real-life situations and personal experiences. In essence, students would be encouraged to think about their careers in reverse. What should be obvious to every student is that the possibilities regarding building a legacy are endless. What may not be as obvious is that everyone leaves a legacy, whether they work hard to leave a positive one or whether they couldn’t care less.
If I could just get an opportunity to teach this course, I know I would finally be viewed as professorial. I am still waiting for Michigan to respond. More seriously, I think this course should be taught at every business school. Let me explain why by elaborating on the four foundation posts.
Developing a Personal Mission Statement helps you prioritize what is really important to you including significant goals you want to achieve in life. It also provides perspective during difficult times. It should be a living document, reflected upon and updated as you go through different stages of life.
Forging your Non-Negotiables, which are your core beliefs you will be willing to fight for, that you won’t compromise. Like integrity, loyalty, work ethic, faith, friendship, commitment, dependability, respectfulness. These, over time will define who you are as a person, and how others will define you as well. These core beliefs are your arsenal against enemy attacks. And in every life, it is inevitable that the enemy is going to attack at some point. Who is the enemy? It’s a long list but here are some… Greed, Fear, Dishonesty, Cancer, Accidents, Randomness, Betrayal, Heartbreak, and Failure. I’m sure you can think of others.
It might be impossible to overstate the importance of having loyal friends, with whom you share a commitment to these non-negotiable core beliefs. Such friends will willingly climb into any fox hole with you, whenever you need them to. Hopefully, even business partners and associates, if treated in the same manner, will climb into that fox hole with you during your most desperate hours. Without non-negotiables, no one will join you in your desperate hours of battle, nor will they count on you in their time of need.
Harnessing the Independence of Solitude gives perspective, which is crucial to effective decision making, especially during difficult circumstances. This quote nails it…
“It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Can you be in the world, but not of the world? Can you determine when to follow the crowd, and when to go in a different direction? Can you stand your ground when it isn’t popular to do so? Can you admit you are wrong and remain confident in your future decision-making?
Embracing the Fruit of the Spirit can be the most empowering decision a person can make. Who wouldn’t want in his or her arsenal an abundance of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control? That is the gift called the fruit of the spirit and it is available to all.
As I mentioned, I sent this syllabus to the University of Michigan. I sent it over a year ago and for some strange reason, they haven’t responded. I’ve often wondered why but I think I can answer it with one word… The word is relativism, which is the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.
In a nutshell, this is a horribly destructive ideology that we simply have to eradicate. While every individual has a right to their own opinions and perceptions, they cannot be used to redefine absolute truths. Relativists obviously disagree with this contention. Relativism is rampant in our culture today. I hope to fight against it, by being, in a word, Professorial. If only Michigan Ross would give me a chance…
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization.