Read Online The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change by Adam Braun - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Adam Braun
Ads: Link
to those in poverty, we do them a disservice. We create a cruel cycle of dependence. After three days with Joel in his remote village, I left knowing that he now had tools to self-educate. By listening to that portable tape recorder each night, he would learn to speak a new language. More important, he could share his English skills with his family in the years ahead without relying on the assistance of others.
My experience with Joel sparked a new curiosity within me. As I traveled on twelve-hour overnight buses through Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and several other countries during the next three months of backpacking, the pencils I handed to children allowed me to ask their parents what they would want most in the world if they could have anything as well. Though I expected to hear “less corrupt government,” “new roads,” or “a better job,” I was met with the same answer nearly every time: “An education for my child.” It was the same dream Joel had doggedly pursued and the same one Apu had before him.
At the greatest levels of affluence, and the deepest levels of poverty, parents share the same desire for their children to have a better future. The willingness to sacrifice their own well-being for the betterment of their children is the common thread I witnessed across mothers and fathers from vastly different cultures. And yet, the playing field remains completely uneven.
During those four months in Central and South America, I thought often about Joel. Each night, as I tossed and turned in search of sleep, I wondered if he was sitting up in his bed listening to those cassette tapes. He showed me the essence of leadership by forging into the unknown so that others could follow. He taught me to approach each new person I met with the dignity he or she deserves. And he proved once and for all that Will Ferrell is funny in every single language.
On our last morning together I promised Joel and his father that I would return one day. Perhaps I could start something in the future that would support their region in Guatemala. I explained to them that at the end of my journey throughout Latin America, New York City awaited. I’d trade backpacks and buses for skyscrapers and subway rides.
The city that never sleeps was about to add one more nightwalker to its masses.
Mantra 7
ASKING FOR PERMISSION IS ASKING FOR DENIAL
B ain & Company, the consulting firm that had just offered me a dream job and FedExed a contract that I had yet to sign, flew me and more than twenty other prospects to New York City, put us up in fancy hotels, and invited us to an opulent weekend of extravagant events to learn more about the company and ideally commit to working there. The capstone affair was on Saturday night, a private dinner at BLT Fish, one of the hottest restaurants in the Meatpacking District. I traded my T-shirt and shorts for a dress shirt and slacks and congregated with other prospects on the top floor, where we gathered to accept our job offers in front of the company’s most esteemed partners.
The scene looked much like you’d imagine Wall Street did in the 1980s, with top-shelf liquor and flowing champagne. Periodically throughout the meal, the head of recruitment stood up and honored the individuals who had already committed to Bain.
“From Harvard, congratulations to Steven Thompson. From Princeton, a warm welcome to Maria Akadia,” she shouted as she handed out bottles of champagne to each new official employee. “Anyone else want to commit?”
Well-dressed soon-to-be college graduates rose out of their seats, declaring, “I’ll commit!” More champagne bottles popped, and everyone in the room cheered. The Bain employees at my table watched me closely as the other prospects rose from their seats, one after another.
I had decided that I would pick Bain over my other offers, but like most of the people there, I waited for the ceremonial dinner to make it official. Toward the
My experience with Joel sparked a new curiosity within me. As I traveled on twelve-hour overnight buses through Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and several other countries during the next three months of backpacking, the pencils I handed to children allowed me to ask their parents what they would want most in the world if they could have anything as well. Though I expected to hear “less corrupt government,” “new roads,” or “a better job,” I was met with the same answer nearly every time: “An education for my child.” It was the same dream Joel had doggedly pursued and the same one Apu had before him.
At the greatest levels of affluence, and the deepest levels of poverty, parents share the same desire for their children to have a better future. The willingness to sacrifice their own well-being for the betterment of their children is the common thread I witnessed across mothers and fathers from vastly different cultures. And yet, the playing field remains completely uneven.
During those four months in Central and South America, I thought often about Joel. Each night, as I tossed and turned in search of sleep, I wondered if he was sitting up in his bed listening to those cassette tapes. He showed me the essence of leadership by forging into the unknown so that others could follow. He taught me to approach each new person I met with the dignity he or she deserves. And he proved once and for all that Will Ferrell is funny in every single language.
On our last morning together I promised Joel and his father that I would return one day. Perhaps I could start something in the future that would support their region in Guatemala. I explained to them that at the end of my journey throughout Latin America, New York City awaited. I’d trade backpacks and buses for skyscrapers and subway rides.
The city that never sleeps was about to add one more nightwalker to its masses.
Mantra 7
ASKING FOR PERMISSION IS ASKING FOR DENIAL
B ain & Company, the consulting firm that had just offered me a dream job and FedExed a contract that I had yet to sign, flew me and more than twenty other prospects to New York City, put us up in fancy hotels, and invited us to an opulent weekend of extravagant events to learn more about the company and ideally commit to working there. The capstone affair was on Saturday night, a private dinner at BLT Fish, one of the hottest restaurants in the Meatpacking District. I traded my T-shirt and shorts for a dress shirt and slacks and congregated with other prospects on the top floor, where we gathered to accept our job offers in front of the company’s most esteemed partners.
The scene looked much like you’d imagine Wall Street did in the 1980s, with top-shelf liquor and flowing champagne. Periodically throughout the meal, the head of recruitment stood up and honored the individuals who had already committed to Bain.
“From Harvard, congratulations to Steven Thompson. From Princeton, a warm welcome to Maria Akadia,” she shouted as she handed out bottles of champagne to each new official employee. “Anyone else want to commit?”
Well-dressed soon-to-be college graduates rose out of their seats, declaring, “I’ll commit!” More champagne bottles popped, and everyone in the room cheered. The Bain employees at my table watched me closely as the other prospects rose from their seats, one after another.
I had decided that I would pick Bain over my other offers, but like most of the people there, I waited for the ceremonial dinner to make it official. Toward the
Similar Books
![Tempted by Two Angels [Notorious Nephilim 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.com/527843/thumbs/152x264/tempted-by-two-angels-notorious-nephilim-3-siren-publishing-menage-amour.png)
