It is relatively safe to say we live in a routinely cynical business world where we spend much time relishing in a competitor’s missteps and trying to out maneuver colleagues for that next promotion. It is because of this competitive business environment that we often forget to consider those we are rooting for.
It is quite en vogue for January blogs and articles to recap the previous year or make bold predictions for the upcoming one. I want to challenge everyone to take some time to think about those individuals you are rooting for this year. To illustrate what I mean, let me share a partial list of my own.
I’m rooting for Ted Alling, Co-Founder of the Lamppost Group and all around great human being. Ted has spent the last few years funding, supporting and cheering on young startup companies with a specific investment commitment to Chattanooga’s burgeoning entrepreneur community. He represents the best in entrepreneurship and we should all celebrate more people like Ted.
I’m also rooting for Noha Kattan who is a Program Manager in Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor. Noha has been tasked with creating programs that improve the participation of Saudi women in academia and professional endeavors. Noha will be creating these programs from scratch and in a culture that has struggled for generations with the rights of women to pursue an education or professional careers. She will need to be bold and brave for herself and all of Saudi Arabia. I can assure you she is capable of both.
Brian Colligan is the Opinion Editor of the Daily Press in Newport News, VA. He has been outspoken in his support of equal marriage rights as legislation in that part of the country has become national news. For all the talk of the “New South,” few issues still carry such strong opposition and fear as equal rights for the LGBT community. In most regards, those feelings still represent the “Old South.” I’m rooting for Brian because we all, collectively, need him to continue to push issues that make us consider how we treat each other.
This is a partial list and I’m not intentionally excluding others- but now it’s your turn. Will you take the time to think about who you are rooting for in 2015? Will you go so far as to write down who those people are and why you are rooting for them? Lastly- will you tell them you are rooting for them?
Few things are more powerful than knowing someone is pulling for you simply because they appreciate who you are and what you are trying to accomplish. Selfishly speaking, maybe we can try to emulate those characteristics that drive us to pull for them.
So, who are you rooting for in 2015?