Beauty in Diversity - Tyler Herman

My classmate sent this poem to my class this weekend and I am going to share it with all of you. It needs to be shared.

BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY

The human family is as diverse and vast as the stars in the sky,
To see the beauty in it all, acceptance is needed, and so each must try.

Each person is their own entity, each has a unique life,
We all share the beauty of existence, we all share the strife.

When we are not accepting, and don't search for the beauty in another,
We fail to see that each human being is our own sister or brother.

We may look different, think different, but at the core are deeply the same,
When we use appearances to discriminate another, are actions are simply a shame.

We must break down the barriers that our own fears use to separate us apart,
We have all been in coexistence on Earth, since creation, since the very start.

Skin colour, hair colour, eye colour, religion, gender, politics, thoughts, dreams,
Sharing and accepting all this diversity is what binds together histories painful seams.

A new light must shine, where the beauty of diversity can radiate through,
With so many colours in the rainbow, we have a choice to not be blue.

For around each corner, under each leaf and stone, there is beauty to be discovered,
But when we discriminate against each other, that beauty inevitably becomes covered.

So loosen the binding shackles that may be subconsciously gripping our point of view,
Looking for the uniqueness and goodness in everyone, for each can teach us something new.

We each contribute to the beautiful palette that paints the larger picture of existence,
Breaking down the barriers of discrimination is no easy task, it takes persistence.

It is the truthful duty of each and every human being to strive to create the unified way,
To look with diligence to find the beauty and diversity in others, each and every day.

We each posses goodness at the core, never forget that when our differences arise,
Our own personal perceptions can create cloudiness, but the beauty in diversity is what clears the skies.

So go now with thoughts of all the beauty of diversity at the forefront of your mind,
We each come from different places, but all share oneness as a citizen of mankind.

Positive and impactful words. Thank you for sharing them Tyler.

Gates and Creative Capitalism

This past week happened to be the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While I never did figure out (or have the time) to film my idea for the YouTube contest, it was interesting to hear Bill Gates speech about just the idea I had. Although he certainly said it better than I ever could, my thoughts were based on the premise that Social Enterprise business practices needed to be adopted by the global elite corporations. Gates urged those in attendance to start making money AND helping the poorest residents around the world. It is an important premise that is slowing becoming more accepted as a business practice. You can make money and help fill a gap for the disadvantaged. There is not a product or business in the world that does not have something to offer in the process of creating a better world.

Corporate Social Responsibility policies have been all the rage the past few years, as consumers become more interested in where their money is going and what it is doing. The 'Green Movement' has almost every product that now enters the market bearing the term green on the packaging. It makes sense. People are paying for products that do more for the world we live in. It will not stop there and it shouldn't stop there.

Bill Gates and his foundation have begun to make inroads into some of the worlds greatest health crises, and it is a significant move that he begin to pass along the wisdom that he has learned as he makes the move from his corporate chair at Microsoft to the philanthropic chair over at his foundation. It is interesting to see the values he now holds. A man, with all the money in the world, has started to give it out to the those less fortunate and while I don't know personally, I would bet my money on that he sees that the money doesn't make him happier. Having an amount above and beyond what is necessary is useless and it is far better off being used on the people who desperately need it.

This is the message that all businesses need to hear. Money in the end will not keep your business from being a failure. It will not make its stakeholders rest easier. It will not help anyone sleep at night or look themselves in the mirror. The world needs more and deserves more from those who get so much. If you are a business owner think about what your organization can do to make the world a better place.