Yesterday I was talking to Tyrhee Moore for a panel I’m moderating next week. He was sharing the story of how he founded Soul Trak. Buried in the narrative was a word he used: Obligation. I thought that was cool, so I asked him about it. How did his feeling a sense of obligation to kids and the outdoors drive him to do everything it took to create something like his non-profit from nothing?
Turns out, for him, it made all the difference.
That word stood out for me because I’ve thought about it myself, in my own experience. As a boss, a feeling of obligation to those who called me that to champion them, to challenge them, and to keep them on track. Even when it meant making tough decisions, having hard conversations. As a husband, a feeling of obligation to my wife to be supportive, to call her on her shit (in reality this never happens–it’s always the other way around), and to listen.
I’m sure you get the point. Instead of me rambling on, maybe take a second to think of that word, too. Obligation. What does it mean to you?
ps - the awesome photo is by a buddy of mine I met back in my REI photography days, Clayton Boyd. The photo look is all his. The expression is all Tyrhee…
