Be Kind...

EPBECU board member, Wendell Boring, shares words of wisdom with fellow EPB employees upon his retirement:

The date was February 22, 1982 when I came to EPB, seems like it was just a little while ago.  I looked up and I have spent almost 39 years as an EPB employee and 3 years as a contractor on the EPB system.  I have a wealth of friends and some of you seem like “family”.  It is sad to end a career during a pandemic when you have not seen many close acquaintances over the past 9 months, but that has actually made it a little easier. 

Over the last year, I have often said in conversations that although we are all in the same COVID storm, our “boats” are quite different. As a friend or a colleague, it’s important to truly ask how someone is doing; to understand what their “boat” looks like, so we can help them make it through this storm.

I read the article about Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, 8 words resonated with me deeply.  Ek’s eight words were 

                                   "Be kind; everyone is on their own journey.” 

These eight words may sound simple, but I think they are incredibly powerful. 

Underneath that seemingly perfect persona we see on Zoom or Teams could be someone out of a job, or whose spouse is; someone struggling with a sick parent or child; someone suffering from mental health issues, physical issues, infertility, or worried about someone else who is. We are all on our own journey, so be kind. When someone is in a rush, maybe there is a reason so let them skip the line.  When they pull out in front of you, don’t fly into a rage.   When someone does not call back right away, forgive them, as there is likely a reason.


It is easy to see our own struggles, shortcomings or challenges, but much harder to see and know what others are facing. Often, we see a glimpse of someone’s life -- their Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn post, or see them looking awesome as we run past them on the street or pass them in the building -- and we assume their whole life is going great. And maybe it is. To me, the key is just not to assume that their boat is like ours or that their boat looks on the inside the way it does on the outside. The reality is this is rarely the case. Reality is often more complicated.
So in parting, Be Kind, treat others as you would like to be treated, care for our customers and each other and give a little Grace when you can.  You need to remember, it is not all about you. 

I want to leave you with a Zig Ziglar quote that is really great.

Leadership Best Practice:  From Zig Ziglar – You are at the Top when: 

• You clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person, that yesterday ended last night, and today is your brand new day.
• You have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and optimistic about your future.
• You know that success doesn't make you and failure doesn't break you.
• You are filled with faith, hope and love; and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy, or thoughts of revenge.
• You are mature enough to delay gratification and shift your focus from your rights to your responsibilities.
• You know that failure to stand for what is morally right is the prelude to being the victim of what is criminally wrong.
• You are secure in who you are, so you are at peace with God and in fellowship with man.
• You have made friends of your adversaries, and have gained the love and respect of those who know you best.
• You understand that others can give you pleasure, but genuine happiness comes when you do things for others.
• You are pleasant to the grouch, courteous to the rude, and generous to the needy.
• You love the unlovable, give hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless, and encouragement to the discouraged.
• You can look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.
• You know that "he who would be the greatest among you must become the servant of all."
• You recognize, confess, develop and use your God-given physical, mental, and spiritual abilities to the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind.
• You stand in front of the Creator of the universe and He says to you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
  
  Clearly, we will all stand before God one day and be judged for how we have used the most precious commodity in all the world: time.  Did we waste it pursuing our own agenda or spend it serving the Lord and helping others?   I hope the life you live is for the Lord and that you have laid up eternal treasure in Heaven, for all that we gain in this life will quickly pass away one day, much sooner than we may think.  
  
  

 I pray each of you finds what you are looking for.
God Bless you all,
Proverbs 3:5,6
Wendell