Idowu Koyenikan's Blog - Posts Tagged "lessons-in-life"
My Harriet Tubman experience – 5 quick observations
The Treasury Department recently announced Harriet Tubman as the replacement for Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. This makes her the first woman to be put on modern American paper currency.
Last year I had the opportunity to participate in the grand opening of the Tubman museum in Macon Georgia. As you might recognize, the museum is named after Harriet Tubman. Tubman, the female abolitionist, was responsible for guiding many slaves to freedom through the use of several secret passages and road networks known as the Underground Railroad.
During my time at the museum, I had the opportunity to sign copies of my book, which is proudly available at the museum, and to interact with those in attendance. I also had the opportunity to tour the newly opened museum and learn more about the life of Harriet Tubman. Since my visit, I have had the chance to reflect on the story of this incredibly brave woman. Here are five quick observations I’ve made about her story:
One. Leadership with no casualties.
As a person who consults leaders often, her story comes with an important lesson. As a leader, Tubman understood that she was responsible for not just her life alone but for the lives and wellbeing of everyone she led to freedom. The great danger that she faced on the job was no excuse for a bad performance. As a leader, you have to understand your responsibilities and take them seriously. Your decisions and actions affect the lives of many and not just our own. You have to know that it is possible to guide everyone to the finish line every time without any casualties.
“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say; I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
Harriet Tubman
Two. She made a conscious decision to give back.
Once she became free, she had the opportunity to disappear and never return. She did not have to go back and rescue other slaves but she did so anyway. The lesson for me here is that when we achieve some level of success, it is important for us to know that we have a responsibility to give back.
Three. She did not do it for the attention.
The nature of her work required a high level of secrecy. Her work was done ‘underground’ away from the public eye. It was not done on a public stage and only those who were directly affected by her work knew what she did. Her motivation therefore was not fame but the desire to do the right thing.
Four. No excuses.
Being a woman in the 1800s had its challenges. Being an escaped slave in the 1800s came with another set of challenges. Tubman could easily have come up with a thousand different reasons as to why she did not have to go back and save others. No one would have faulted her for making excuses. However, she did not let her circumstances limit her. She knew what she had to do and she did it. There lies the question, what’s holding you back in your life? What reasons do you come up with for not taking action?
Five. It starts with you.
It is important that we are aware of our problems, shortcomings and weaknesses. The quote below is often attributed to Tubman.
“I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
Upon reading this quote, it is easy to center your mind around the topic of slavery. This quote however is much more deeper than that. I see it as meaning that we must all become self aware of our limitations. Breaking free from our limitations starts with us. Whether it is with your business or with your personal life, becoming self-aware and embracing your limitations is the first step towards change.
Get the Author's latest book here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A...
For more blog posts from this Author, visit www.ikelevates.com. Author's twitter Link: https://twitter.com/IkElevates
About the Author. Idowu Koyenikan is a consultant and Bestselling Author. Idowu helps individuals and businesses break through to new and higher levels through strategic planning, training and coaching. As featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Chicago Tribune, BBC, Huffington Post, MSN and many more.
Idowu is the Author of Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability and Wealth for All Africans: How Every African Can Live the Life of Their Dreams.
Last year I had the opportunity to participate in the grand opening of the Tubman museum in Macon Georgia. As you might recognize, the museum is named after Harriet Tubman. Tubman, the female abolitionist, was responsible for guiding many slaves to freedom through the use of several secret passages and road networks known as the Underground Railroad.
During my time at the museum, I had the opportunity to sign copies of my book, which is proudly available at the museum, and to interact with those in attendance. I also had the opportunity to tour the newly opened museum and learn more about the life of Harriet Tubman. Since my visit, I have had the chance to reflect on the story of this incredibly brave woman. Here are five quick observations I’ve made about her story:
One. Leadership with no casualties.
As a person who consults leaders often, her story comes with an important lesson. As a leader, Tubman understood that she was responsible for not just her life alone but for the lives and wellbeing of everyone she led to freedom. The great danger that she faced on the job was no excuse for a bad performance. As a leader, you have to understand your responsibilities and take them seriously. Your decisions and actions affect the lives of many and not just our own. You have to know that it is possible to guide everyone to the finish line every time without any casualties.
“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say; I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
Harriet Tubman
Two. She made a conscious decision to give back.
Once she became free, she had the opportunity to disappear and never return. She did not have to go back and rescue other slaves but she did so anyway. The lesson for me here is that when we achieve some level of success, it is important for us to know that we have a responsibility to give back.
Three. She did not do it for the attention.
The nature of her work required a high level of secrecy. Her work was done ‘underground’ away from the public eye. It was not done on a public stage and only those who were directly affected by her work knew what she did. Her motivation therefore was not fame but the desire to do the right thing.
Four. No excuses.
Being a woman in the 1800s had its challenges. Being an escaped slave in the 1800s came with another set of challenges. Tubman could easily have come up with a thousand different reasons as to why she did not have to go back and save others. No one would have faulted her for making excuses. However, she did not let her circumstances limit her. She knew what she had to do and she did it. There lies the question, what’s holding you back in your life? What reasons do you come up with for not taking action?
Five. It starts with you.
It is important that we are aware of our problems, shortcomings and weaknesses. The quote below is often attributed to Tubman.
“I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
Upon reading this quote, it is easy to center your mind around the topic of slavery. This quote however is much more deeper than that. I see it as meaning that we must all become self aware of our limitations. Breaking free from our limitations starts with us. Whether it is with your business or with your personal life, becoming self-aware and embracing your limitations is the first step towards change.
Get the Author's latest book here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A...For more blog posts from this Author, visit www.ikelevates.com. Author's twitter Link: https://twitter.com/IkElevates
About the Author. Idowu Koyenikan is a consultant and Bestselling Author. Idowu helps individuals and businesses break through to new and higher levels through strategic planning, training and coaching. As featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Chicago Tribune, BBC, Huffington Post, MSN and many more.
Idowu is the Author of Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability and Wealth for All Africans: How Every African Can Live the Life of Their Dreams.
