power it’s one of the most mysterious social forces in all of human existence
social forces in all of human existence
social forces in all of human existence the exertion of our will on others for
the exertion of our will on others for
the exertion of our will on others for some just hearing the word causes
some just hearing the word causes
some just hearing the word causes anxiety it pits our basic sense of human
anxiety it pits our basic sense of human
anxiety it pits our basic sense of human kindness against the seduction of
kindness against the seduction of
kindness against the seduction of self-interest it defines and reveals how
self-interest it defines and reveals how
self-interest it defines and reveals how we participate in relationship and for
we participate in relationship and for
we participate in relationship and for some that conditioning starts in the
some that conditioning starts in the
some that conditioning starts in the earliest part of our social development
earliest part of our social development
earliest part of our social development how well playground bullying teaches us
how well playground bullying teaches us
how well playground bullying teaches us the painful consequences of power over
the painful consequences of power over
the painful consequences of power over others whether we’re the bully or the
others whether we’re the bully or the
others whether we’re the bully or the bullied our parents give away our
bullied our parents give away our
bullied our parents give away our Halloween candy too late
Halloween candy too late
Halloween candy too late trick-or-treaters and we quickly know
trick-or-treaters and we quickly know
trick-or-treaters and we quickly know how unfair resource allocation decisions
how unfair resource allocation decisions
how unfair resource allocation decisions can be a teacher falsely accuses us of
can be a teacher falsely accuses us of
can be a teacher falsely accuses us of cheating on a test and we feel how
cheating on a test and we feel how
cheating on a test and we feel how fickle the decisions of those in power
fickle the decisions of those in power
fickle the decisions of those in power can be and the terrible injustice of
can be and the terrible injustice of
can be and the terrible injustice of having the real cheater go free without
having the real cheater go free without
having the real cheater go free without accountability the soccer coach puts in
accountability the soccer coach puts in
accountability the soccer coach puts in his own kid to kick the winning goal
his own kid to kick the winning goal
his own kid to kick the winning goal instead of the most talented player and
instead of the most talented player and
instead of the most talented player and we feel the disempowering effects of
we feel the disempowering effects of
we feel the disempowering effects of favoritism and wonder just how rare is
favoritism and wonder just how rare is
favoritism and wonder just how rare is meritocracy remember being asked the
meritocracy remember being asked the
meritocracy remember being asked the captain kickball at recess and pick
captain kickball at recess and pick
captain kickball at recess and pick teams and later facing the anger of our
teams and later facing the anger of our
teams and later facing the anger of our friends we didn’t bid and learning that
friends we didn’t bid and learning that
friends we didn’t bid and learning that sometimes having power means making
sometimes having power means making
sometimes having power means making really hard trade-offs these formative
really hard trade-offs these formative
really hard trade-offs these formative experiences shape our predispositions
experiences shape our predispositions
experiences shape our predispositions early in life and they accompany us
early in life and they accompany us
early in life and they accompany us right into adulthood for some these
right into adulthood for some these
right into adulthood for some these lessons teach us that power is bad and
lessons teach us that power is bad and
lessons teach us that power is bad and and therefore not always to be trusted
and therefore not always to be trusted
and therefore not always to be trusted futurist Alvin Toffler in his 1990
futurist Alvin Toffler in his 1990
futurist Alvin Toffler in his 1990 world-changing book power shift said
world-changing book power shift said
world-changing book power shift said despite the bad odor that clings to the
despite the bad odor that clings to the
despite the bad odor that clings to the very notion of power because of the
very notion of power because of the
very notion of power because of the misuses to which it has been put power
misuses to which it has been put power
misuses to which it has been put power is neither good nor bad it’s an
is neither good nor bad it’s an
is neither good nor bad it’s an inescapable aspect of every human
inescapable aspect of every human
inescapable aspect of every human relationship
relationship
relationship to a greater degree that most of us
to a greater degree that most of us
to a greater degree that most of us imagine we are all the products of power
imagine we are all the products of power
imagine we are all the products of power 25 years later my firm commissioned a
25 years later my firm commissioned a
25 years later my firm commissioned a ten year longitudinal study of more than
ten year longitudinal study of more than
ten year longitudinal study of more than 2700 people and confirmed that indeed
2700 people and confirmed that indeed
2700 people and confirmed that indeed the greatest misuse of power wasn’t for
the greatest misuse of power wasn’t for
the greatest misuse of power wasn’t for self-interest no the most astounding
self-interest no the most astounding
self-interest no the most astounding finding in our study was despite the
finding in our study was despite the
finding in our study was despite the misconception that power is misused for
misconception that power is misused for
misconception that power is misused for personal or immoral gain was that people
personal or immoral gain was that people
personal or immoral gain was that people didn’t over indulge power nearly to the
didn’t over indulge power nearly to the
didn’t over indulge power nearly to the degree and they simply chose not to use
degree and they simply chose not to use
degree and they simply chose not to use it at all
it at all
it at all a full sixty percent of the people in
a full sixty percent of the people in
a full sixty percent of the people in our study struggled with the notion that
our study struggled with the notion that
our study struggled with the notion that people ascribe more power to them than
people ascribe more power to them than
people ascribe more power to them than they actually believed they had
they actually believed they had
they actually believed they had themselves whether for fear of being
themselves whether for fear of being
themselves whether for fear of being judged or a fear of making a mistake for
judged or a fear of making a mistake for
judged or a fear of making a mistake for some abandoning power just seemed easier
some abandoning power just seemed easier
some abandoning power just seemed easier and safer and the saddest waste of all
and safer and the saddest waste of all
and safer and the saddest waste of all that power is that all of the good it
that power is that all of the good it
that power is that all of the good it could do to change the world goes
could do to change the world goes
could do to change the world goes unrealized but what if you are more
unrealized but what if you are more
unrealized but what if you are more powerful than you are powerless what if
powerful than you are powerless what if
powerful than you are powerless what if there are more sources of power
there are more sources of power
there are more sources of power available to you than you know and
available to you than you know and
available to you than you know and therefore more good you could do to
therefore more good you could do to
therefore more good you could do to change the world and you can possibly
change the world and you can possibly
change the world and you can possibly imagine instead of fearing our power
imagine instead of fearing our power
imagine instead of fearing our power what if we were haunted by the notion of
what if we were haunted by the notion of
what if we were haunted by the notion of reaching the end of our life only to
reaching the end of our life only to
reaching the end of our life only to discover that all of the good we could
discover that all of the good we could
discover that all of the good we could have done
have done
have done we forfeited our research revealed three
we forfeited our research revealed three
we forfeited our research revealed three primary sources of power that we each
primary sources of power that we each
primary sources of power that we each have available to us that if we brought
have available to us that if we brought
have available to us that if we brought to bear with greater intention and
to bear with greater intention and
to bear with greater intention and purpose could influence the world in
purpose could influence the world in
purpose could influence the world in profoundly important ways we each have
profoundly important ways we each have
profoundly important ways we each have power in our positions we have power in
power in our positions we have power in
power in our positions we have power in our network of relationships and we have
our network of relationships and we have
our network of relationships and we have power in our information let’s see how
power in our information let’s see how
power in our information let’s see how they each could help us all change the
they each could help us all change the
they each could help us all change the world the power in our positions the
world the power in our positions the
world the power in our positions the power to bring a sense of justice how
power to bring a sense of justice how
power to bring a sense of justice how many of you have had the word said to
many of you have had the word said to
many of you have had the word said to you it’s not fair if you’re a teacher or
you it’s not fair if you’re a teacher or
you it’s not fair if you’re a teacher or a leader and goodness knows if you’re a
a leader and goodness knows if you’re a
a leader and goodness knows if you’re a parent it is one of the most common
parent it is one of the most common
parent it is one of the most common laments we hear
laments we hear
laments we hear and though life isn’t always fair when
and though life isn’t always fair when
and though life isn’t always fair when injustice goes on addressed research
injustice goes on addressed research
injustice goes on addressed research shows that a sense of unfairness sets
shows that a sense of unfairness sets
shows that a sense of unfairness sets the stage for unethical behavior because
the stage for unethical behavior because
the stage for unethical behavior because when people feel wronged they feel
when people feel wronged they feel
when people feel wronged they feel entitled to take but as parents and
entitled to take but as parents and
entitled to take but as parents and leaders and teachers we have the
leaders and teachers we have the
leaders and teachers we have the opportunity in fact I think we have the
opportunity in fact I think we have the
opportunity in fact I think we have the obligation to restore justice for those
obligation to restore justice for those
obligation to restore justice for those we influence so they come to trust
we influence so they come to trust
we influence so they come to trust Authority susan was a new supervisor of
Authority susan was a new supervisor of
Authority susan was a new supervisor of a small sales and service rep team at a
a small sales and service rep team at a
a small sales and service rep team at a small family-owned business she’d taken
small family-owned business she’d taken
small family-owned business she’d taken the position over from one of the owners
the position over from one of the owners
the position over from one of the owners children now he only hired his friends
children now he only hired his friends
children now he only hired his friends he bought their loyalty by doing them
he bought their loyalty by doing them
he bought their loyalty by doing them favors and he never held them
favors and he never held them
favors and he never held them accountable well customer complaints had
accountable well customer complaints had
accountable well customer complaints had become so bad the owners had no choice
become so bad the owners had no choice
become so bad the owners had no choice but to take him out of the job Susan
but to take him out of the job Susan
but to take him out of the job Susan knew that if she was going to turn this
knew that if she was going to turn this
knew that if she was going to turn this team around she’d have to relearn their
team around she’d have to relearn their
team around she’d have to relearn their trust and restore a sense of standards
trust and restore a sense of standards
trust and restore a sense of standards well with the support of the owners
well with the support of the owners
well with the support of the owners susan generously rewarded those of a
susan generously rewarded those of a
susan generously rewarded those of a team who done more than their fair share
team who done more than their fair share
team who done more than their fair share because they had felt it was so unfair
because they had felt it was so unfair
because they had felt it was so unfair they got rewarded the same as those who
they got rewarded the same as those who
they got rewarded the same as those who did so little and in the first six
did so little and in the first six
did so little and in the first six months of her job she removed those who
months of her job she removed those who
months of her job she removed those who couldn’t meet the new standards Susan
couldn’t meet the new standards Susan
couldn’t meet the new standards Susan kept her word she restored faith and
kept her word she restored faith and
kept her word she restored faith and commitment to the team and she restored
commitment to the team and she restored
commitment to the team and she restored customer loyalty as well yes she risk
customer loyalty as well yes she risk
customer loyalty as well yes she risk disappointing those employees who come
disappointing those employees who come
disappointing those employees who come to expect so much for doing so little
to expect so much for doing so little
to expect so much for doing so little but that may be one of the greatest
but that may be one of the greatest
but that may be one of the greatest gifts she could have given them they had
gifts she could have given them they had
gifts she could have given them they had to learn even at the expense of their
to learn even at the expense of their
to learn even at the expense of their jobs that life doesn’t owe them that
jobs that life doesn’t owe them that
jobs that life doesn’t owe them that they have to contribute to earn a living
they have to contribute to earn a living
they have to contribute to earn a living using our positions of power minute
using our positions of power minute
using our positions of power minute always win us popularity but they will
always win us popularity but they will
always win us popularity but they will gain us respect whether you’re leader
gain us respect whether you’re leader
gain us respect whether you’re leader meeting a thousands of people or just a
meeting a thousands of people or just a
meeting a thousands of people or just a few whether you’re a teacher or a school
few whether you’re a teacher or a school
few whether you’re a teacher or a school administrator or you’re a parent leading
administrator or you’re a parent leading
administrator or you’re a parent leading a family making the world a more just
a family making the world a more just
a family making the world a more just place for even a few it means more hope
place for even a few it means more hope
place for even a few it means more hope instead of cynicism it means more
instead of cynicism it means more
instead of cynicism it means more justice for those who in turn will treat
justice for those who in turn will treat
justice for those who in turn will treat others more justly as well so in your
others more justly as well so in your
others more justly as well so in your life
life
life what wrongs are waiting for you to write
what wrongs are waiting for you to write
what wrongs are waiting for you to write them where can you restore a sense of
them where can you restore a sense of
them where can you restore a sense of justice where injustice has prevailed
the power in our connections the power
the power in our connections the power to help others discover the greatest
to help others discover the greatest
to help others discover the greatest versions of themselves now in our
versions of themselves now in our
versions of themselves now in our research people in relationship with
research people in relationship with
research people in relationship with great influencers consistently describe
great influencers consistently describe
great influencers consistently describe them in two ways first they said I knew
them in two ways first they said I knew
them in two ways first they said I knew I mattered to them second they saw
I mattered to them second they saw
I mattered to them second they saw potential in me that I couldn’t see in
potential in me that I couldn’t see in
potential in me that I couldn’t see in myself now think about the people who
myself now think about the people who
myself now think about the people who have had the greatest impact in your
have had the greatest impact in your
have had the greatest impact in your life I bet you would say over them that
life I bet you would say over them that
life I bet you would say over them that one if not both of those sentences were
one if not both of those sentences were
one if not both of those sentences were true
true
true you see our greatest human hunger to be
you see our greatest human hunger to be
you see our greatest human hunger to be seen and known by those important to us
seen and known by those important to us
seen and known by those important to us it’s met when we know we matter and when
it’s met when we know we matter and when
it’s met when we know we matter and when we start to become the people we’ve
we start to become the people we’ve
we start to become the people we’ve always dreamed of becoming Jared was a
always dreamed of becoming Jared was a
always dreamed of becoming Jared was a very gifted school teacher to one of the
very gifted school teacher to one of the
very gifted school teacher to one of the most dangerous and feared populations of
most dangerous and feared populations of
most dangerous and feared populations of student groups junior high schoolers
student groups junior high schoolers
student groups junior high schoolers Jarret knew the fragile sense of self
Jarret knew the fragile sense of self
Jarret knew the fragile sense of self with which they struggled he knew how
with which they struggled he knew how
with which they struggled he knew how even the popular kids were consumed in
even the popular kids were consumed in
even the popular kids were consumed in self-doubt and desperate to fit in but
self-doubt and desperate to fit in but
self-doubt and desperate to fit in but he was a teacher everybody wanted an
he was a teacher everybody wanted an
he was a teacher everybody wanted an average grades in his classes were 14%
average grades in his classes were 14%
average grades in his classes were 14% higher than the rest of the school
higher than the rest of the school
higher than the rest of the school despite the fact he gave more homework
despite the fact he gave more homework
despite the fact he gave more homework and harder tests when asked what his
and harder tests when asked what his
and harder tests when asked what his secret was to motivating one of the most
secret was to motivating one of the most
secret was to motivating one of the most notoriously unmotivated well student
notoriously unmotivated well student
notoriously unmotivated well student groups was he said it’s simple I asked
groups was he said it’s simple I asked
groups was he said it’s simple I asked for the story when a Jarrod’s favorite
for the story when a Jarrod’s favorite
for the story when a Jarrod’s favorite questions to ask his students when they
questions to ask his students when they
questions to ask his students when they would finish a paper or a project was
would finish a paper or a project was
would finish a paper or a project was tell me how you did that he said the
tell me how you did that he said the
tell me how you did that he said the minute they began telling me this story
minute they began telling me this story
minute they began telling me this story where they started where they struggled
where they started where they struggled
where they started where they struggled where they broke through
where they broke through
where they broke through they came alive they became animated and
they came alive they became animated and
they came alive they became animated and the more intently I listened and the
the more intently I listened and the
the more intently I listened and the more impressed I became the more
more impressed I became the more
more impressed I became the more validated they felt as parents and
validated they felt as parents and
validated they felt as parents and teachers as bosses we hold the stories
teachers as bosses we hold the stories
teachers as bosses we hold the stories of others in our hands and when we hold
of others in our hands and when we hold
of others in our hands and when we hold them lovingly we help others write their
them lovingly we help others write their
them lovingly we help others write their stories as they hope they will go when
stories as they hope they will go when
stories as they hope they will go when people invite us into their stories we
people invite us into their stories we
people invite us into their stories we have the chance to help them discover
have the chance to help them discover
have the chance to help them discover the greatest versions of themselves
the greatest versions of themselves
the greatest versions of themselves we legitimize and empower them and in so
we legitimize and empower them and in so
we legitimize and empower them and in so doing we help them believe they can
doing we help them believe they can
doing we help them believe they can become the people they’ve always dreamed
become the people they’ve always dreamed
become the people they’ve always dreamed of whose story is waiting for you to
of whose story is waiting for you to
of whose story is waiting for you to validate it who needs to hear those
validate it who needs to hear those
validate it who needs to hear those motivating and encouraging words from
motivating and encouraging words from
motivating and encouraging words from you that was amazing
you that was amazing
you that was amazing tell me how did you do it the power in
tell me how did you do it the power in
tell me how did you do it the power in our information the power to change
our information the power to change
our information the power to change perspectives at some point or other we
perspectives at some point or other we
perspectives at some point or other we have all played the game I know let’s
have all played the game I know let’s
have all played the game I know let’s see having some juicy piece of
see having some juicy piece of
see having some juicy piece of information that we hoarded over other
information that we hoarded over other
information that we hoarded over other people that they didn’t have we’ve also
people that they didn’t have we’ve also
people that they didn’t have we’ve also all been on the other side of that game
all been on the other side of that game
all been on the other side of that game and
and
and the loneliness of being left out and
the loneliness of being left out and
the loneliness of being left out and shunned used to be having information
shunned used to be having information
shunned used to be having information made you powerful but these days the
made you powerful but these days the
made you powerful but these days the instant accessibility of most
instant accessibility of most
instant accessibility of most information makes hoarding it pretty
information makes hoarding it pretty
information makes hoarding it pretty pointless no just having it doesn’t make
pointless no just having it doesn’t make
pointless no just having it doesn’t make you powerful but having an insightful
you powerful but having an insightful
you powerful but having an insightful interpretation of the information that
interpretation of the information that
interpretation of the information that others find meaningful that does make
others find meaningful that does make
others find meaningful that does make you powerful when we share information
you powerful when we share information
you powerful when we share information generously we have the power to unleash
generously we have the power to unleash
generously we have the power to unleash curiosity and open-mindedness
curiosity and open-mindedness
curiosity and open-mindedness when we trust others with important
when we trust others with important
when we trust others with important information we elevate their sense of
information we elevate their sense of
information we elevate their sense of responsibility we open them to
responsibility we open them to
responsibility we open them to possibilities they might have otherwise
possibilities they might have otherwise
possibilities they might have otherwise missed because the perspective could
missed because the perspective could
missed because the perspective could have remained too narrow every day in
have remained too narrow every day in
have remained too narrow every day in public life in our communities and our
public life in our communities and our
public life in our communities and our in our friends on social media and on
in our friends on social media and on
in our friends on social media and on the news we face the agonizing reality
the news we face the agonizing reality
the news we face the agonizing reality of biased and distorted information
of biased and distorted information
of biased and distorted information intended to manipulate instead of inform
intended to manipulate instead of inform
intended to manipulate instead of inform and help others learn but when we share
and help others learn but when we share
and help others learn but when we share information honestly we have the power
information honestly we have the power
information honestly we have the power to change perspectives instead of more
to change perspectives instead of more
to change perspectives instead of more division trusted and verified
division trusted and verified
division trusted and verified information has the power to build
information has the power to build
information has the power to build bridges
bridges
bridges Rachid was the small business owner who
Rachid was the small business owner who
Rachid was the small business owner who had come to the United States when he
had come to the United States when he
had come to the United States when he was just a boy now he and his wife had
was just a boy now he and his wife had
was just a boy now he and his wife had two grown children they had raised
two grown children they had raised
two grown children they had raised Muslim and their oldest son Ahmed was
Muslim and their oldest son Ahmed was
Muslim and their oldest son Ahmed was home from college on spring break and
home from college on spring break and
home from college on spring break and sharing how difficult life had become on
sharing how difficult life had become on
sharing how difficult life had become on campus for Muslim students you see from
campus for Muslim students you see from
campus for Muslim students you see from one small group there was a deep
one small group there was a deep
one small group there was a deep anti-muslim sentiment and from a larger
anti-muslim sentiment and from a larger
anti-muslim sentiment and from a larger group there was a seemingly
group there was a seemingly
group there was a seemingly well-intended sense of support but that
well-intended sense of support but that
well-intended sense of support but that felt like a different kind of
felt like a different kind of
felt like a different kind of marginalization being treated like
marginalization being treated like
marginalization being treated like victims well understandably frustrated
victims well understandably frustrated
victims well understandably frustrated and very confused
and very confused
and very confused I’m advented to his father why do they
I’m advented to his father why do they
I’m advented to his father why do they think we’re all radicals and why do they
think we’re all radicals and why do they
think we’re all radicals and why do they think we’re just pathetic victims that
think we’re just pathetic victims that
think we’re just pathetic victims that need them to defend us both perspectives
need them to defend us both perspectives
need them to defend us both perspectives just make them feel superior and look so
just make them feel superior and look so
just make them feel superior and look so ignorant
ignorant
ignorant well patiently
well patiently
well patiently Rasheed said to his son Ahmed maybe they
Rasheed said to his son Ahmed maybe they
Rasheed said to his son Ahmed maybe they aren’t the only part of the problem
aren’t the only part of the problem
aren’t the only part of the problem maybe the other part of the problem is
maybe the other part of the problem is
maybe the other part of the problem is that you’ve concluded that they’re all
that you’ve concluded that they’re all
that you’ve concluded that they’re all ignorant
ignorant
ignorant son I know how horrible it feels to be
son I know how horrible it feels to be
son I know how horrible it feels to be distorted or labeled by anyone you feel
distorted or labeled by anyone you feel
distorted or labeled by anyone you feel invisible but you’ve taken yourself out
invisible but you’ve taken yourself out
invisible but you’ve taken yourself out of the conversation by labeling them
of the conversation by labeling them
of the conversation by labeling them back how many of your anti-muslim
back how many of your anti-muslim
back how many of your anti-muslim students have you engaged and talked to
students have you engaged and talked to
students have you engaged and talked to how many of your so-called offenders
how many of your so-called offenders
how many of your so-called offenders have you reached out to and told them
have you reached out to and told them
have you reached out to and told them how you felt and offer them suggestions
how you felt and offer them suggestions
how you felt and offer them suggestions for how to channel their good intentions
for how to channel their good intentions
for how to channel their good intentions to show you friendship and solidarity
until you tell me you’ve had those
until you tell me you’ve had those conversations all I can do is have
conversations all I can do is have
conversations all I can do is have compassion for you
compassion for you
compassion for you Rasheed then handed his son a pile of
Rasheed then handed his son a pile of
Rasheed then handed his son a pile of articles he had found about how Muslims
articles he had found about how Muslims
articles he had found about how Muslims had successfully engaged others across
had successfully engaged others across
had successfully engaged others across religious and social and political lines
religious and social and political lines
religious and social and political lines he said son I think there’s a lot of
he said son I think there’s a lot of
he said son I think there’s a lot of other ways we can think about this see
other ways we can think about this see
other ways we can think about this see if some of these can help well turns out
if some of these can help well turns out
if some of these can help well turns out one of the articles he shared with him
one of the articles he shared with him
one of the articles he shared with him was an article I wrote about a Muslim TV
was an article I wrote about a Muslim TV
was an article I wrote about a Muslim TV producer who had traveled all the way
producer who had traveled all the way
producer who had traveled all the way across the country to small town Alaska
across the country to small town Alaska
across the country to small town Alaska to engage others of very different
to engage others of very different
to engage others of very different social and political views and to his
social and political views and to his
social and political views and to his surprise found them warm and respectful
surprise found them warm and respectful
surprise found them warm and respectful and hospitable when I wrote that article
and hospitable when I wrote that article
and hospitable when I wrote that article I never imagined it being used to shape
I never imagined it being used to shape
I never imagined it being used to shape the perspective of a college student so
the perspective of a college student so
the perspective of a college student so far away but when I learned it had been
far away but when I learned it had been
far away but when I learned it had been used that way it changed my perspective
used that way it changed my perspective
used that way it changed my perspective I now understood that information I
I now understood that information I
I now understood that information I shared had much further reaching
shared had much further reaching
shared had much further reaching implications than I ever understood but
implications than I ever understood but
implications than I ever understood but now I would share information keeping
now I would share information keeping
now I would share information keeping that in mind as the dad of two college
that in mind as the dad of two college
that in mind as the dad of two college students I deeply appreciate the courage
students I deeply appreciate the courage
students I deeply appreciate the courage and compassion it took for Oishi to
and compassion it took for Oishi to
and compassion it took for Oishi to challenge his son’s views but his wisdom
challenge his son’s views but his wisdom
challenge his son’s views but his wisdom and insight prevailed and it did change
and insight prevailed and it did change
and insight prevailed and it did change the way
the way
the way IMed saw things and changed how he
IMed saw things and changed how he
IMed saw things and changed how he returned to campus after spring break so
returned to campus after spring break so
returned to campus after spring break so whose mind is waiting for you to offer
whose mind is waiting for you to offer
whose mind is waiting for you to offer it a new question a new perspective
it a new question a new perspective
it a new question a new perspective who’s deeply entrenched views are
who’s deeply entrenched views are
who’s deeply entrenched views are waiting for you to help gently dislodge
waiting for you to help gently dislodge
waiting for you to help gently dislodge them with new information
them with new information
them with new information wandering with them could there be a
wandering with them could there be a
wandering with them could there be a different way to see this the power in
different way to see this the power in
different way to see this the power in our positions to bring justice the power
our positions to bring justice the power
our positions to bring justice the power in our connections to help others
in our connections to help others
in our connections to help others discover the greatest versions of
discover the greatest versions of
discover the greatest versions of themselves the power in information to
themselves the power in information to
themselves the power in information to change perspectives together they form
change perspectives together they form
change perspectives together they form the power to change the world maybe not
the power to change the world maybe not
the power to change the world maybe not the whole world but your world for Susan
the whole world but your world for Susan
the whole world but your world for Susan and Jared and Rashid beautiful
and Jared and Rashid beautiful
and Jared and Rashid beautiful embodiments of all three of these they
embodiments of all three of these they
embodiments of all three of these they changed their world what if we
changed their world what if we
changed their world what if we approached every day believing we had
approached every day believing we had
approached every day believing we had the power to change the world for those
the power to change the world for those
the power to change the world for those around us what if we didn’t fear our
around us what if we didn’t fear our
around us what if we didn’t fear our power assuming our voices couldn’t
power assuming our voices couldn’t
power assuming our voices couldn’t possibly make a difference or others
possibly make a difference or others
possibly make a difference or others wouldn’t care what we had to offer but
wouldn’t care what we had to offer but
wouldn’t care what we had to offer but what if instead we approached everyday
what if instead we approached everyday
what if instead we approached everyday believing the power in our positions
believing the power in our positions
believing the power in our positions could restore justice for those for whom
could restore justice for those for whom
could restore justice for those for whom life wasn’t fair or the power in our
life wasn’t fair or the power in our
life wasn’t fair or the power in our connections could bring together
connections could bring together
connections could bring together communities of students who believed
communities of students who believed
communities of students who believed they mattered and could reach their full
they mattered and could reach their full
they mattered and could reach their full potential or the power in our
potential or the power in our
potential or the power in our information could help change the views
information could help change the views
information could help change the views of our neighbors who might come to
of our neighbors who might come to
of our neighbors who might come to appreciate views different than their
appreciate views different than their
appreciate views different than their own that’s the world I want to sign up
own that’s the world I want to sign up
own that’s the world I want to sign up for and live in today and leave behind
for and live in today and leave behind
for and live in today and leave behind for our children if we want a world
for our children if we want a world
for our children if we want a world where those inclined to abuse their
where those inclined to abuse their
where those inclined to abuse their power do it less more of us have to find
power do it less more of us have to find
power do it less more of us have to find the courage to use ours you are so much
the courage to use ours you are so much
the courage to use ours you are so much more powerful than you realize instead
more powerful than you realize instead
more powerful than you realize instead of shirking or shunning your power
of shirking or shunning your power
of shirking or shunning your power embrace it
embrace it
embrace it resolve today to use it for a great good
resolve today to use it for a great good
resolve today to use it for a great good and live a life that shows it and when
and live a life that shows it and when
and live a life that shows it and when you do watch
you do watch
you do watch watch the world around you change for
watch the world around you change for
watch the world around you change for good thank you
good thank you
good thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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