Page 8 - 2016 february issue
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VIEWPOINT
Live, Learn, and Lead with Love
By Michelle Alba Lim, DTM – District Director
With Valentine’s movie “The Replacements” after the team takes
Day just past, I’d a beating, their coach (Gene Hackman) tells TV
like to share some reflections about love. Does reporters that the team needs “heart” to win. He
love really matter? How does love impact the way boots out the experienced and highly qualified
we live, learn, and lead? quarterback in favor of a replacement quarter-
Theodore Roosevelt’s succinct words “People back (Reeves) who truly cares about each team
don’t care how much you know, until they know how member. In turn, each player strives to be the
much you care.” perfectly capture my sentiments. very best. Against all odds, the team wins.
For me, care is synonymous with love. We can’t
love someone and not care about them. And People don’t care how much you know, until
when we care about someone, we show them they know how much you care.
love, even if we don’t say the words “I love you.”
Roosevelt’s words should be on bumper stickers This has been my mantra over the years.
that the DMV issues, free, to anyone who wants Time and time again, I’ve been blessed with
them. With constant reminders, human beings opportunities to experience how truly powerful
might be kinder to fellow humans. love can be. I’ve seen club members who blossom
I didn’t always understand how much love and excel when they know that their club mates
mattered. In fact, I shudder at the thought of how care about them as individuals –not mere
many times I must have failed the litmus test of numbers on the DCP chart. I’ve seen employees
love. Did I care about the person as an individual, learn tasks that people said they wouldn’t learn,
separate from how well he or she could deliver because someone took the time to patiently work
what I wanted or needed? with them and teach them in the way that they
Many years ago, as a first-time club presi- could learn best. I’ve seen struggling, troubled
dent, I was determined that our club would be teens transform into responsible adults because
President’s Distinguished. We created a club someone cared enough to reach out and listen
success plan and set our goals. Our VPM (a real to them instead of lecturing them on their
estate broker) didn’t seem to be pulling her shortcomings.
share of the load. She occasionally missed club What about you? Who are you leading with
meetings when she was showing properties to love today? I’d love to hear your stories. Write me
prospects. One day, she called to say that she’d at michelle@wlfcentre.com. Take care!
be late for an officers meeting. I reminded her
that she’d promised to be at the meeting. I heard People still tend to pay more
an audible sigh followed by a long pause, then attention to what you do versus
she quietly remarked, “Michelle, you didn’t even what you say. So the old adage:
ask how I’m doing. Would you even care that I “actions speak louder than words” is
barely survived a car accident?” To this day, I
vividly recall the shame that washed over me still valid today.
as I realized how uncaring I must have seemed
to her. Thereafter, I do my best to care for the (Harold S. Geneen, ITT Corporation)
person as much as the plan.
Ironically, when people know that you care Volume 2 Issue 7 - FEBRUARY 2016
about them, they’ll move heaven and earth to
achieve the goals you’ve set. We see this in sports,
real or reel. In a scene from the Keanu Reeves
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