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A Personal Word on
The Power of One
from David C. Forward
I want to go beyond my biographical sketch to give you a sense of who I am, of my belief system, and why those values so effectively translate into a
powerful program for audiences around the world.
Some wise sage once asked me, “If you only had ten minutes left to live, what would you draw from your life experience to pass on to the person
you were with at the time?” That is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. I have met many highly educated people who made terrible
managers and were dreadful communicators because they did not know how to apply the knowledge.
So what would my message be? It would be “One person can make a difference.” That is why I conduct my keynotes and training with theme
“The Power of One.” Look back in history at people who did not have much knowledge in the academic sense but who had tremendous wisdom: Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Winston
Churchill, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela.
But you don’t have to be famous to have the Power of One. In my volunteer work I see hundreds of people who feel compelled to reach out and help someone in need, sometimes dedicating a week, sometimes much
of their lives, to the cause. While some folks sit around and complain about all that is wrong with the world, these volunteers have shown that
they can make it a little bit better through their compassionate action. They have The Power of One to make a difference---and incidentally, will always report that they receive far more than they give.
And so it is in the workplace setting. I sometimes ask audiences to give me rapid-fire descriptions of the worst bosses they have ever had. I don’t want
to repeat those words here! Then I ask them to describe their best bosses. Rarely do they describe the person’s technical skills. Instead, they use
words like “great listener” “trusting” “empowering” “helped me grow” “funny” and “a mentor.” You see, those went beyond their academic and technical knowledge and applied wisdom to their job. They went beyond
being bosses; they became leaders. Irrespective of the other managers, the type of industry, or corporate policy, they used The Power of One, which made their subordinates want to come to work each day.
My goal is to show each person I meet, whether on an airplane or in an audience, that they possess The Power of One. Each of us can make a
difference. To an employee. To our community. To our family. I hope to have the opportunity of sharing this challenge with you.
David C. Forward
My Daily Creed
Let me be a little kinder, let me be a little blinder,
to the faults of those about me, let me praise a little more;
Let me be, when I am weary, just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little better those that I am striving for.
Let me be a little braver when temptation bids me waver,
Let me strive a little harder to be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker,
Let me think more of my neighbor and a little less of me.
David C. Forward
Find out how David can help make your next event a success!
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