I recently had a conversation with a client on the difference between fair and equal. The conversation revolved around the way we raised our kids but it got me thinking about the bigger picture.
Do you want to be treated fair or equal? Are they the same? Does it depend on the situation? Maybe they mean something completely different. Who gets to decide?
If you want to know my answer, it’s fair. Well some of the time. Those of you that follow me know that I don’t make political statements and this post will be no exception. That being said, I firmly believe in equal rights, freedom of speech as well as the freedom to pursue happiness.
We should all be treated equal and we should all have the right to pursue what we desire. Where I get stuck is on equal opportunity. I don’t want to get stuck playing word games and this could easily be a simple issue of how you define opportunity. Opportunity is not being handed something that is available. I believe that is enabling.
What is fair is providing the opportunity but letting the most deserving, the one who has worked the hardest, the one who is willing to risk what they already have to achieve more, receive that opportunity.
This is the problem. Our culture had allowed these two terms to be watered down so much that we no longer recognize the difference. We have a broken system and no one party, organization, or administration is to blame. I think we spend so much time talking about the problem and whose at fault that we forget to work towards finding a solution.
My opinion, yes my opinion, is not based on race, color, religion or political affiliation. It is based on the belief that we need to stop enabling and start empowering. The only way for people to get better, and better off, is to empower them to do so.
What’s fair to invest in people so that they will invest in themselves and in-turn will begin to invest back in others or in their communities. That’s fair to them and fair to everyone else.
I may get a little push back on this post, and that’s ok. Why? Because I will stand behind my words. I am willing to invest in others. I believe in people and that the greatest gift we can give them is to do just that – believe in them.
I have no problem whatsoever, in giving a person an opportunity, but if we fail to empower them to embrace that opportunity as a way forward, we are doing them a dis-service and we collectively continue to be part of the problem instead of the solution.
My challenge today is to consider the desired outcome in helping those in need. It doesn’t matter if it’s material goods, a job opportunity or maybe something as simple as a little encouragement.
Consider what you are doing or providing – is it a short term solution to a long term problem or is there a way to empower someone to be part of their own solution?
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SAVE THE DATE: On October 10th, John will be doing a WEBCAST to teach from his new book and introduce the Maxwell Leadership Assessment. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WEBCAST
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Barry Smith 9/28/13 photo by author © Building What Matters 2013
