Do The Right Thing Always: In Life, Your Career, & Influence.

It's time. It's time to acknowledge our place, our influence, our value. As a professional knowing #WheresYourNext is a powerful moment when you are doing things for all the right reasons.

The year was 2008. I was sitting across the table from a leader who would go on to influence me for all the right reasons. She looked me straight in the eye, and said "Mike always Do the Right Thing. That's the best advise I could ever give you. Do the right thing by your clients, push back on hiring managers when you know you need to do the right thing, and always do the right thing by your candidates." That stuck with me all these years and I give you credit Donna DeGrande . You had an influence on me I'll never forget.

Today, 2024, we have a lot to give as Recruiting, Staffing, and HR Professionals. We are seeing organizations gutting Diversity, Inclusion and Equity programs, we are seeing Talent Acquisition pummeled by unique issues that have unfortunately displaced many recruiters. In these times where change is happening so rapid fire we are feeling the heat, it's time to elevate your game, it's time to test boundaries, be bold in your sense of ethics, and to DO THE RIGHT THING always.

Whether it's standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, whether it's standing up for Diversity and Inclusion, whether that's opening doors for others REGARDLESS of their background, it's time to DO THE RIGHT THING.

I'm well aware that the battle of our time is overcoming the VERY real obstacles that exist: the lack of humanity around us, the lack of understanding and empathy, the toxic nature of our very challenging political times. Let me take you back in time in history - 3 examples from very courageous historical figures that changed our world - did you know that you can too? Did you know you CAN do the right thing in these times where challenges are real? Did you know you can have courage when it seems like there are so many REAL human issues? I embrace the "Do the Right Thing" mind set. What does that look like. Let's learn from history.

Abraham Lincoln: In his time he was at times all alone, in fighting for Emancipation, in fighting for keeping the Union together, in striving to lead in a way that won fans, and influenced people of multiple backgrounds. What was it? He was so firm in his conviction that he needed to "Do the Right Thing". As you can see from the quote - he advocated and very much lived the principle "Put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." Had Lincoln not stood firm the 13th Amendment may have never been passed, he never would have bridged the Gap and made amazing things happen that was the beginnings of change in a world that said it couldn't be done. Yes he did the right thing. Lincoln sought to treat human beings with respect.

Winston Churchill: Imagine being the last Leader standing between a conquered Europe, and a lost voice of freedom? Imagine your back is to the wall, and you have an evil man staring you down where tyranny is a challenge. That was Winston. The Lion. He created the operation that sought to rescue 230k trapped soldiers at Dunkirk by getting boats from civilians and created an Armada overnight. This one single action may have saved Europe and Britain. It requires courage in the midst of odds. Because doing the right thing may be tough.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Imagine knowing that you need to do something different to obtain Civil Rights yet having so many challenges and years of injustice against you. Martin knew he had to gain traction and he build partnerships, created allies, and found traction by doing the right thing in spite of the odds. His efforts led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It took courage, it took persecution. He advocated non violent protests and "sit ins" that were a step of conviction and advocacy. He won freedoms that were needed and should have always been.

I take stock of history - I take stock of the challenges to professionals in these times. We need to be courageous in finding our path, and doing the right thing always. Never lose site of the "why" of your courage to do the right thing. Deep down ethics require you to stand up for the downtrodden, those struggling and so much more. These are times in 2024 where we are still learning these lessons in humanity. I know doing the right thing isn't always easy. It may require your total involved commitment. Don't give up on doing the right thing.