So let’s take this idea of allyship a step further. Having a network of sisters and brothers is not just important for support and guidance.
This world can be extremely unfair. There are times when circumstances and people are so misaligned with where we are going, with who we are and how we make a difference in this world. These are times where action on our part is required to realign what is broken.
People can be selfish. People can be bullies. People can have prejudicial thinking. When these people are in positions of authority and influence, they can create roadblocks and even worse, their actions can have negative impacts on people we care about, people we are responsible for, people we are accountable to.
These selfish actions must be met head on and stopped. Often, we are the ones who find ourselves in the middle of the energy to put bullying actions to an end. We need to stand our ground and fight.
This is another situation where our allies, our sisters and brothers left and right of us, must stand together. Every now and then, we are forced to fight. However, we must recognize and commit to one very important rule. When we fight, we never fight alone. Alone, we may be able to be defeated, no matter how strong where are. Even a couple of us may be able to be defeated. But a group, a collection of committed people, a network so close that when they stand next to each other, side by side, standing on facts, standing on truth, standing together, standing for what is right…We cannot be defeated. We will make a difference and the world will never look at us the same again.
So what do we do now, where do we go? Each of you have your own answer to that question. The beautiful news is there is no wrong answer. It is my hope that you do something wonderful with who you are. Go make a difference. Go do something no one has ever done before. Go help a group of people become far more than any of them can do on their own, guide them to become more than just the sum of their parts. Go…change the world. Everyone will tell you can’t. Be the one who shows them you can, and you did.
I hope each of you find your own balance as you destroy stereotypes, to lead us beyond archaic thinking to a place where we all see each other for who we are, what each of us can bring and where we each make a difference. Instead of putting people in a box, let’s knock boxes and barriers flat.
When we have allies left and right of us, we have the power, the right and the strength to accomplish everything we know we can achieve. There is no place for fear and doubt to be a barrier to everything we are, to everything we can be. We have networks of sisters and brothers left and right of us to be our champions, our mentors, our coaches, our friends, and with that network beside us, we will take on those people who put artificial barriers in front of us and we never fight alone. We will be forces for good to change the world for good, to live our lives to make this a better place to live than the world we came from, a better place than where we started.
Author: Jay Syverson, CRO
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