Our older daughter, Katie, is getting married in July. That’s obviously a big (and very happy) deal
for our family, but as this great event approaches I’m struck by the clarity of
what I am learning from her. You see,
Katie is a teacher.
During her first two years at UCLA, Katie was on the Mock
Trial team and seemed destined to go to Law School. Then she had her first chance to teach during
the summer after year two, and this was followed by her chance to travel the
world that Fall in the Semester at Sea program.
When she came home, they said she may be different than before she left
after seeing the real world, including examples of true poverty and need. I really wondered what would be different
about her.
It was big. When she
returned home, Katie suddenly knew that she was destined to teach kids – Law
School was a distant memory. She has now
been teaching high school for the past five years and is as purposeful about her
career as anyone I know; she also travels the world every summer and builds
even greater perspective along the way.
I started learning from Katie from the day she decided this was her
destiny.
I remember starting my own career and having no real idea
what was truly passionate for me, but I see how powerful it is for Katie to be
in her zone every day, knowing she is fulfilling her destiny.
Katie is a teacher for me, helping me realize the value of
purposefulness.
While I watch her grow each year to become even better at
her purposeful craft, it causes me to continually examine my own choices and
how I spend my time. I have to ask
myself all the time whether I am living as purposefully as I can. I see the way Katie pours her heart and soul
into helping young people have better lives and achieve far more than they had
ever imagined.
Who are the people in your life that are your teachers? Perhaps it’s those folks that seem to be what
you wish you were? Perhaps it’s just
something about them…
When I write these stories, I find that the subject is
usually whatever I need to be learning myself right about then. I suppose that as Katie gets married, I need
to both appreciate her for the great person she has become and also to be
reminded that I need to stay as purposeful in my life as possible. Thanks for the reminder, teach!
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Partner, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949)
529-2672
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA
92618
black@mbsearch.net
www.mbsearch.net http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffblackmcdermottbull http://www.jeffblackmcdermottbull.blogspot.com/
I believe
creating relationships that truly fit makes a big difference in the world
