Over the holidays, a friend gave me a copy of the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum. I read the book in college and loved it at the time; however, given the current social and political state in the U.S. I was glad to be re-introduced to it. The lessons Fulghum wisely yet simply shares are basic and full of common sense, yet particularly relevant and inspirational.
Consider Fulghum’s suggestion about what a better world it would be if “…all governments had a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.”
When you read Fulghum’s list of lessons, consider his vital counsel to take any of the items “and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or work or your government or your world…”
I won’t share the full list, but I have excerpted a few of his lessons below that especially resonate for me as a business leader:
- Share everything.
- Play fair.
- Don’t hit people.
- Clean up your own mess.
- Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
- Live a balanced life.
- When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
- Be aware of wonder.
- Look
If you haven’t read the book, or perhaps read it years ago, I encourage you to take a look. As stated on the back cover, “… It cannot fail to move everyone who reads it – leaving them wiser, gentler and feeling good.” Seems like a wonderful way to start the year.
Happy New Year!