Remembering a King
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”― Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King’s words are more profound than a single quote can do justice to. The natural order states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So some would say, responding to darkness with something that is equal to darkness is natural. Does that mean responding to darkness with light is supernatural, or at least not in our nature? Sounds reasonable, and certainly outside of the normal comfort zone. Being human, Dr. King surely felt some dark things about his persecutors. He never let that darkness shape his response. For that, we remember Dr. King and revere his character.
The example Dr. King set is one of selflessness. Putting aside how he must have wanted to respond, and responding instead with love to his persecutors. We so rarely see this in mankind, that when characters like this are revealed, we rightly point to them as models of virtue. Putting King’s example into practice in our lives (or business practices) is easier said than done. Being Eminent is a constant effort. The past is filled with lessons, where our natural responses won the day. But those lessons propel us to become more Eminent. Today we serve others, which is why we give away our marketing tools and practices. Our experience isn’t knowledge or tools we own. We’re stewards of it, and whatever is given away, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
Where is Dr. King Today, and who is the doorman?
The world is filled with loud negative noises. It can make it hard to sift through all of it, and find the quite selfless individuals modeling Dr. King today. It takes real effort. But in the end we benefit from that effort by extolling those selfless acts of light. The best way we can remember Dr. King is to actively seek out those who respond with selflessness, and point to them as the way forward, then support them. The “Doorman” named Josh, who responded to being a nameless new kid with a pain-fulled past by serving others, is one example. What is it that you do best? Give some of it away without expectation of reward, and see what happens in life and business.