“What would you say if a guy walked in for any interview without a shirt on and I hired him?”
‘He must’ve had on some really nice pants.”
Chris Gardner- The Pursuit of happiness.
That is one of my favorite scenes from the movie “The Pursuit of happiness.” It is the story of Chris Gardner who went from living on the streets with his son to being a successful entrepreneur. The movie was great, but I would recommend you read the book because the true story is even more heartbreaking, but it also told the story of a man who would do what it took to pursue his dreams and that people were able to look beyond his circumstances and give him a chance.
If you read the book unlike the movie Chris spent 10 days in prison for $1200 in unpaid parking tickets. While in prison he had an interview with a large stockbroking firm, but the interview was on the day he was still in prison. He asked a prison guard if he could use the phone to reschedule his interview and the guard dialed the number for him. When he got out of prison after discovering his wife took off with their son we went to his interview with jeans and a tee shirt on. This manager hired him and gave him the opportunity for a yearlong internship. The rest is history.
You may be wondering the point I am trying to make. My point is this. The prison guard and the manager were able to look past the outward appearance and see something in Chris Gardner that they believed deserved an opportunity. The guard could see beyond a Blackman in prison and the manager could see beyond a Blackman with jeans and a tee shirt. They saw a man who acted with dignity, and they choose to honor his dignity by giving him the benefit of the doubt when others would not.
This is how I have chosen to live as a person and as a leader. There were many times I have hired someone when others said no. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not, but I have had more successes than failures and when I see those people grow into something greater, I am proud that I could see beyond their outward appearance and give them a chance. I have also been given opportunities in my life because someone saw something in me that made them believe I could be a leader.
I carry that torch of dignity and it is a part of every decision I make. When I honor dignity, I am successful. When I do not, I fail. It is why I speak about it constantly. It is why I write this post. Dignity will always prevail, and honoring dignity will always make a difference.
“You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who can move boulders, move boulders. That’s how mountains get moved. If every one of us did everything we could, I believe we would be in a different world.”- Chris Gardner
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 