A great challenge in life and leadership is to maintain a childish perspective. A perspective free of tainted experiences. One that allows us to look at the world through the clear eyes of a child.
Childish Perspective
There is this vivid memory that I have of an Atlanta Braves game that I took my son Grant to. He was about eight years old at the time. I have always loved getting to go to games with him.
I couldn’t even tell you who won that evening, but I can tell you in detail about a moment that followed.
We were walking back to the vehicle after the game when I spotted a lady holding a sign ahead. She had her daughter who was about Grant’s age standing next to her. The sign was asking for financial help.
They were positioned right at the bottom of the staircase. This gave me time to think about two things. One, all the reasons not to give her money. Two, how to avoid the situation all together.
Well…my plan was working until I felt a tap on my hip. A tap that took place right in front of the lady and her child! Grant looked up to me and said, “Dad, give her some money.” I wasn’t the only one that heard his demand, she did too!
Left with little choice other than to set an incredibly poor example for my son, I pulled out my wallet. I very rarely carry cash. On this night, I had one, crisp, $50 bill available. I handed it over and we proceeded to the truck.
Here are two valuable life and leadership lessons that I learned that evening from Grant’s childish perspective:
Give Willingly
Before I gave the money, I made one more pass through my wallet. I was searching for a much smaller bill that may have been magically tucked away somewhere. It wasn’t! I wish that I could tell you that I gave willingly in the moment, but I didn’t.
All that I was focused on was that I was parting ways with $50. I am certain that Grant had no clue how much it was. It didn’t matter to him. His childish perspective was pure in nature, he willingly wanted to give to them. Without his willingness, I was certainly unwilling.
In life and leadership, we all have the ability to give. The question is, do we have the willingness? Giving to others of our time, talents, and treasures WILLINGLY is a great differentiator of good and great people.
Give Unconditionally
If I’m being completely honest, another thought that ran through my head was whether it was a legit need. We all have been scorned by stories in the news of people who take advantage of the generosity of others. When people in “need” either do not put the money to good use or the need never existed at all.
Unfortunately, as we age, exposure to these stories can make us cynical. We are guilty of leaning towards the bad, not the good. It’s not our intention, it is just a natural reaction to being exposed to more experiences in this journey of life and leadership.
Grant’s childish perspective simply said…give. He didn’t care what the lady would do with the money. His life hadn’t been exposed to the bad, just the good. He simply saw life through the innocence of a child. A grateful kid whose dad had the financial resources to take him to a Major League Baseball game that night. He saw a little child like himself in need and he didn’t like that.
Effective parents and leaders give unconditionally. Unconditional giving expects NOTHING in return. No thank you, no public recognition, and certainly no expectation of how the investment of the gift pans out.
Great people give unconditionally.
Conclusion
Grant’s childish perspective humbled me that evening. Once I got past the fact that I was $50 lighter in the wallet than when we arrived, I realized that I had learned two extremely valuable lessons that evening.
The grind of life and leadership can easily rob us of our childish perspective…if we allow it to. Growing cynical, cold, and calloused requires our permission. It takes constant resistance to persevere and not succumb to negative perspectives. Twenty-five years into a career, I must challenge myself daily to do so.
It’s moments like that night that remind me of what it is like to have a childish perspective. One that I miss dearly.
It just required a child to teach me that perspective. Give willingly, give unconditionally. There is great simplicity in that childish perspective.
