On being a “good bean”

Damon West was in my hometown recently sharing his message about being a coffee bean and it got me thinking.

I appreciate his message about how each and every one of us can have a positive impact in our community if we choose to do so.

And, if a coffee bean is someone who influences their environment by slowly and patiently “seeping” into it, then aren’t we all quietly seeping into our environments everyday, having an effect even when we don’t realize we are?

And isn’t it also possible, then, that we could be having a less-than-positive effect depending on our actions and intentions?

And then perhaps the real definition of leadership is actively choosing to impart positive change (and to avoid imparting negative change) into the world around us.

In West’s book, the main character goes through a period where he’s lost his way. Overwhelmed by the pressures of work, family, and community, he forgets to follow his own advice and, for a bit, is more of a negative influence than a positive one. His family and coworkers are negatively impacted. In fact, at one point, his wife and kids are avoiding him and his negativity.

Thankfully, Abe finds his way back to the “good bean” path and before long is back to imparting positive change into his community.

But maybe the most important question for us coming out of Mr. West’s talk and book, is given that we’re all influencing our environments all day every day, what sort of influence do we hope to have? Do we hope to impart a positive influence, where we help others reach higher heights, where we build a stronger, more resilient and thriving community, or do we just hope to survive on our own, and give little concern to how we’re influencing those around us?

Either one of these outcomes is possible when we endeavor to influence our environment.

In a world where many of the most influential around us seem hellbent on extracting as much value for themselves as possible and leaving the rest of us to fight over their scraps, how do we, as leaders, want to show up? Do we want to emulate them, leaving negativity and poor outcomes in our wake? Or do we want to be positive role models, leaving things better than we found them, sharing our own goodness with those around us?

The choice is up to each and every one of us. And the world definitely needs more good beans, now more than ever. Which will you choose to be?