Just over a month ago a young entrepreneur was killed outside a store he ran aimed at providing inspiration for his community.
I didn’t know of him, his music, his focus on lifting up his community. However, when his death made the news, I looked him up and this quote really spoke to me.
“If you look at the people in your circle and don’t get inspired, then you don’t have a circle. You have a cage”
If you are looking to stretch, to grow, both for yourself and in leading others, it is critical to have a strong foundation to support you, as sometimes you will run into hurdles to clear.
At those times you need people around you who inspire you, not people who tell you to get back in your cage.
In Cayman, we have a phrase, “crabs in a bucket”, from when if you are collecting land crabs in season and one tries to climb out, others will pull them back in.
In Scotland you may hear “ah kent his faither”, translating to “I know his father”. “Meaning: you have achieved more success than I believe is fair
Usage: Scots achieving success goes against the national code of being the eternal underdog.”
If you intend to bravely achieve transformative things for yourself and others, then, pay heed to the quote:
“If you look at the people in your circle and don’t get inspired, then you don’t have a circle. You have a cage”