Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
I’m still thinking about them: Farmers. We posted on it earlier this week. The farmer leadership crisis here in Iowa is weighing heavily on my mind. So much so that I want to throw some more thoughts against the wall and see if they stick.
Some of you had some brilliant insights regarding our first post.
Reader Sam said,
I also hope that we [younger people] can get over ourselves and our new thoughts/ideas/strategies long enough to ask respectfully for their [older generation] help.
Reader Jesse said,
Way too much is at stake if this [transition] isn’t done well. In fact, there have been several along the way that chose to leave instead of play a part in passing things on or participate with a generation going in a different direction than they’d prefer.
Great insights. The stubbornness of a younger generation to insist on “doing things my way” may lead to years and years of painful trips ’round the mountain. Are younger people willing to stand on the shoulders of the generation that came before them?
As I reflect on the leadership from older generations in my own life, here’s what I’m grateful for:
- Since my college days, I’ve always had a strong, grace-filled older voice in my life. I cannot imagine where I would be without the voices of Jeff, Marsha, Drew, Victoria, Kent, Megs, Christine, Mitch, Mel, Mike, Richard and Gina.
- Rarely have these older voices been prescriptive (“Do this because I said so!“). The older voices have descriptive (“This is what happened when I made a similar choice”), but never have they played the “do-it-this-way-because-I’m-older-than-you-are” card. This has made all the difference.
- Most of these people have pursued a relationship with me. They have been the ones to reach out and ask to have coffee with me, hang out, grab lunch, etc. This, too, has made all the difference. Relationally, they did they heavy-lifting.
- Most of these relationships have left me with more questions than answers. This is a good thing. It goes back to being descriptive rather than prescriptive. They’ve allowed me to make my own choices and have been there if/when there’s a need for “clean up.” This has made all the difference.
These are the shoulders I’ve stood on throughout the years. When I look around at other young people, I see a staggering need for more shoulders. The sturdiness of older generations that will allow us to reach places that they never dreamed of.
Do you have “shoulders” to stand on? If so, what do you appreciate most? If not, what would you want from a relationship with an older mentor?
Jeff and Marsha, huh? Me too.
What I appreciate most is this amazing combination of patience and transparency. Wouldn't be where I am without people who had those two things in great quantity.
They are the bomb dot com.
I have had a few solid pair of shoulders in the recent past, and I think if I could narrow it down to one main appreciation I have had it would be the opportunity to get my hands dirty. This always comes at a risk, as you mentioned the clean-up that is sometimes necessary after failure. I would say I owe the most to those who have given me a shot, especially because I never deserved it. I wrote a post about this called, “Thank You for Your Time” because leaders are busy, and again, as you mentioned, when they do the relational heavy-lifting, it makes a significant impact. I hope the farmers of our great state are hearing this!
I have had a few solid pair of shoulders in the recent past, and I think if I could narrow it down to one main appreciation I have had it would be the opportunity to get my hands dirty. This always comes at a risk, as you mentioned the clean-up that is sometimes necessary after failure. I would say I owe the most to those who have given me a shot, especially because I never deserved it. I wrote a post about this called, “Thank You for Your Time” because leaders are busy, and again, as you mentioned, when they do the relational heavy-lifting, it makes a significant impact. I hope the farmers of our great state are hearing this!