Share Your Blanket

Story by Howard Schultz (chairman & CEO of Starbucks) - Excerpted from his acceptance speech for the Columbia Business School's Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics

In Israel, Mr Schultz went to Mea Shearim along with a group of businessmen. He had the opportunity to have an audience with Rabbi Finkel who told them the below story...

As you know, during the Holocaust, the people were transported in the worst possible, inhumane way by railcar. They thought they were going to a work camp. We all know they were going to a death camp. As they went into the area to sleep, only one person was given a blanket for every six. The person who received the blanket, when he went to bed, had to decide, 'Am I going to push the blanket to the five other people who did not get one, or am I going to pull it toward myself to stay warm?'After hours and hours in this inhumane corral with no light, no bathroom, cold, they arrived at the camps. The doors were swung wide open, and they were blinded by the light. Men were separated from women, mothers from daughters, fathers from sons. They went off to the bunkers to sleep. And Rabbi Finkel says, 'It was during this defining moment that we learned the power of the human spirit, because we pushed the blanket to five others.' And with that, he stood up and said, 'Take your blanket. Take it back to America and push it to five other people'.

Reflection:

This is probably one of the most powerful messages I have learnt, because even in times of distress it is crucial to help and care for others… even when you are going through the same ordeal. Let it be financial or a physical ailment, it is so important as a human being to rise above it and take action to help others in the same place. We humans have been placed in this world to achieve and experience many great things and one of these great opportunities is to care for the people closest to us, irrespective of our own current situation. It is no excuse to say "I can't help because I am going through my own issues". If this were the case then who will rise up to help? Yes, it can be difficult to give the care that people are looking for, but you can make the difference in your own unique way. Kindness is not defined by giving money or physical items, it is the quality of being generous and considerate. Be compassionate and make your mark in this world one of kindness, deep

love and care for others even in times of personal distress.

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around - Leo Buscaglia.