PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT VERSUS PROFESSIONAL SURVIVORSHIP!

Op-Ed by Edward Foxworth III

An afternoon at the barbershop, where everything under the sun is discussed, led to a deep conversation on “the meaning and purpose of life.” The kind of, “What are we doing here?” talk. “What are we doing with the lives we’ve been given?” Since childhood, high school, and even college? The discussion was like having a family/class/old neighborhood friend reunion. Many have had a number of relationships, others still in the one that they were in 5, 10, 15 years ago. Some have gone on to create families, been employed at several jobs while others have not shown much progress in their lives at all, for one reason or another. Some even looked very much the same as they did back then!

As one person after another came in and waited on their turn to get a haircut, different perspectives, memories, and future plans were added.

Don’t misunderstand me; this wasn’t always the most intellectual dialogue in the world. In fact, there was often irrational, out-of-order, illogical, points of view, in terms of what was being talked about, tossed into the mix. There were also religious angles, sympathetic slants, along with poor, middle and high income household positions. However, that’s what made the conversation so real, so rich and so very unique!

Everyone involved had different backgrounds and experiences that shaped their outlook. It was the kind of exchange that you wished could be captured on video and shared for others to analyze and eventually learn from.

As the world keeps moving, where are you standing? Behind it, alongside or out in front? Computers, Skyping, Microsoft Office, Social Networking Websites and 4G Cell Phones have caught a lot of people off guard. 360⁰ Feedback, Diversity & Inclusion, Leadership and skill-based career training have had corporations demanding more from the human capital that they employ. Production oriented jobs are becoming fewer, while innovative, creative thinkers with an entrepreneurial mindset has grown.

There was once a time when a high school diploma was enough to get a job, and many still believe that it is. However, job descriptions are increasingly being created with a minimum bachelor’s degree as a requirement. Sure, relationships still rules overall. Yes, attractive people get hired before less attractive people do, along with taller people and in some cases, women before men. I’ll let you determine if there is still a racial preference, with just this little hint: According to a recent study by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy, “the wealth gap between white and African-American families has more than quadrupled over the course of a generation; the racial wealth gap increased by $75,000 - from $20,000 to $95,000; and, at least 25 percent of African-Americans have no assets.” Got it? Moving along…

The individual focus, whether it is committing to read more, returning to school for a degree or participating in more webinars, conferences and/or corporate trainings, becoming more knowledgeable, as a way of increasing your personal value, is critical.

One of the things learned by the guys in the barbershop, located on Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, is that so many of us are wandering through life and not fulfilling our passion. Despite our upbringing, we just are not living out the thing that springs us out of bed in the morning because we are so anxious to go and do it. We are not experiencing the drive that compels us to not want to go to sleep at night because we are enjoying what we are doing.

Note to self: Personal Development is what legacies are made of! Giving the guys credit, the dialogue ended with many of them intent on disciplining themselves to avoid the distractions and to focus on what they wanted to accomplish with this life. They left with a nice looking haircut, which prepared them to physically look like they had what it takes to get ahead. However, it was the underutilized force inside of the head, that they had so nicely trimmed, that mattered most.

Edward Foxworth conducts corporate trainings in diversity, entrepreneurship along with personal and professional development. He is the author of “The Six Routines of Self-Discovery” which is available on his website at www.edwardfoxworth.com.