Lesson 37: Urgency
I’ve only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it,
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
But it’s up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
“Life is Just a Minute” by Benjamin E. Mays
“And the winner is team 1!” We were one of two finalists competing in the case competition at the annual Booth-Kellogg ETA Conference. The essays in my application for business school talked about attending this conference, and this week I was on stage with my teammates, Alex and Akshay, presenting to the attendees.
After the presentations, the judges deliberated and we lost. I clapped for the other team and shook each man’s hand. My stomach lurched as feelings of disappointment surfaced. We were so close.
The conference was the day before the country went to the polls. When the election results were confirmed, my disappointment turned into a sense of urgency. We are in pain, and it is time to address it. This pain reinforces my commitment to closing the racial wealth gap, and I fully believe we can.
My goal is to acquire a trade school because it will change the lives of the students who attend. We can create an environment where a sense of urgency will propel you into a career that would otherwise be inaccessible without proper training.
The median salary for airline mechanics in 2023 was $74,400 per year. There are 8 mechanics schools in Georgia approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. In Alabama there are 4. In Mississippi, only 3. As a searcher, I comb the internet for businesses that speak to my calling. The disappointment I felt losing at the conference is no excuse to stop now. I have the opportunity to own a business that creates economic mobility so it is urgent that I keep going.
Catherine Littell was one of the judges of the case competition, and she invests with searchers. She made a point to offer our team some words of encouragement and said, “Your presentation was polished and please let me know if you ever want to talk about ETA.” Although we did not win, we gained a relationship. Winning is a white hot space that fades as soon as you leave the arena. But a relationship will hold you up through adversity.
My vision is to leverage my influence as a Black business leader to pursue economic justice. We are in this race toward economic justice together. I understand Dr. Benjamin E. Mays when he said, “I’ve only just a minute.” He is telling us we have something important to do with our lives. We matter.
