Others of “high society” did not see these items as fine art. Rather, they were merely anthropological relics. On the contrary, Rubinstein viewed these works as beautiful things that she used to decorate her home and salons. Make a personal commitment to these same ideals. For example, examine your team and ask yourself: “How many of my associates look and think like me? Are most of the same gender, race, or alma mater? How can I bring in diverse perspectives (without compromising the underlying principles of our group)? How can I explicitly demonstrate that I value unique viewpoints?” Genuine bellwethers do not take for granted that they are unbiased people. Instead, they make concerted efforts to identify and counteract the inborn tendency every person has to seek a comfort zone among those who look and think the same. Then they act positively on that self-knowledge.
BUILDING OURSELVES INTO BELLWETHERS
The path from migrant to millionaire was not simple for Helena Rubinstein. However, she achieved it through an unwavering dedication to excellence, education, and equality. Those efforts led to an enduring legacy, a legacy of generational wealth and generosity. When we focus on such goals for ourselves, we too can become Bellwethers of society.
She stated that people “failed to understand the mysterious link that can exist between an African mask, a romantic piece of furniture, and a painting by Matisse. But this link seemed obvious to me.” Bellwethers do not have to be political activists to push for positive change. However, in our hearts and through our actions, we respect and honor others who are different from ourselves.
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