IT ONLY TAKES ONE

BE THE ONE

You’ve heard it said, “Change takes a village.”

Truth is: Transformation only takes one.

One person to change the world.?

Or a person’s life.?

Not all heroes operate on the same scale.?

Some of them are famous when they alter the course of history.?

Some seem like ordinary people.?

But they are not.?

They are extraordinary in their willingness to ignore what the world wants them to do and pursue a course of action—usually a difficult one—because of what they believe in.?

Motivated by what they know is right.?

Abraham Lincoln emancipated slaves.

Mahatma Gandhi won India its independence.

Rosa Parks sparked a civil rights movement while sitting in her seat on the bus.

Nelson Mandela brought an end to apartheid.?

Malala Yousafzai fought for the right of girls to be educated.?

All of them are renowned for their character. Their goodness. And, ultimately, their actions.

Think about that. Their actions.?

Because when you really get down to it, you don’t have to be good to do good.

When it comes to change, individual action is everything.

Take the case of Dietrich von Choltitz. He was a general in Hitler’s army and was the last commander of Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944. It would be hard to argue that a senior Nazi officer was a good person. But Choltitz saved Paris from destruction by defying Hitler’s orders to destroy the city.?

Nine direct orders.

Had he obeyed, Paris would not be the beautiful city we know today.?

Instead, he risked himself and the safety of his family back in Germany and refused to trigger the explosives that had been rigged to destroy the National Assembly, the Palace of Luxembourg, the bridges over the Seine and other key monuments. Some historians say he realized that to do so would have been futile given the approach of Allied forces and their inevitable retaking of the French capital. That may have been the case, but Choltitz, a lifetime military man with a history of following orders, had enacted scorched-earth measures in the past.?

This time he didn’t.

He may not have been admirable, but he made a bold decision that changed the course of history.?

You don’t have to be perfect to be a hero. You just have to be willing to question orders, to challenge, and to stand alone. Only then can you be the one person who changes another’s world.

That is one of our core values at Medix Global , one I emphasize strongly. I want each of our team members to be that one person for each of our patients.?

A personal story, if you’ll permit:

When my dear friend, Manu Schongut, was given a second cancer diagnosis in less than two years, he was told he needed life-threatening surgery and /or heavy chemotherapy.?

We questioned if that was the right call. It wasn’t easy. We were effectively challenging the diagnosis and treatment of some of the world’s leading doctors and specialists. There was immense pressure in recommending a pause in treatment so we could explore further. He trusted us and my team, and when he went for his next scan, his mass had shrunk. Over time, it disappeared completely.?

By standing up for what I believed was the right course of action, Manu was spared a risky surgery and heavy chemotherapy.

It was a reminder to never underestimate the power of one person with knowledge, courage and vision to change the course of a life, or many.

We all can do that.

We just have to be brave.

Leadership expert and psychoanalyst Manfred Kets de Vries likens bravery to a muscle. Some of us are born more muscular than others, but we can all build ourselves up. We can develop the kind of courage required in order to take personal risks for the benefit of others. It just takes practice.

And belief. When you focus on outcome, not current discomfort, you can chart a clear path toward a defined goal. A journey guided by principle. And by common sense.?

We all need to strive to be that one person. Daily.

We probably won’t get there every day, or even most days, but if we are not constantly endeavoring to do so we will miss opportunities to be that one.

That one person for someone.?

Whether you change the course of a million people’s lives or of just one isn’t important. The key is to act.?

We can all do that.?

I leave you with the words of the Dalai Lama: “Anyone who thinks they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room.”?

How will you be that one for someone?