Here is what I consider to be an inspirational story in bad time. In a way, this story reminds me about what I wrote about Steve Jobs in my September 2 commentary.  The article, ‘A Blind Man Who Leads’ – reading time 3 minutes – gives a thumbnail of the life of Jim Gibbons, the first blind man to earn an MBA (in 1994) from Harvard Business School.  I suggest you will find this 3 minute time expenditure will worth ‘the price of admission’.

Jim Gibbons has gone on to have a successful career.  Since April 2008 Mr. Gibbons has been CEO of Maryland based Goodwill Industries International.  Under his direction, that organization has grown from 15,000 to 98,000 employees, and is adding over 100 thrift stores a year across the U.S. to its current +2,500 stores.  Note the 2008 – 2011 timing, note the success, note that, to some degree, Goodwill stores may be ‘in the right space at the right time’. Note this and think about directing the operations of a major business while never being able to see any of your co-workers, your facilities, their physical locations and neighborhoods, and so on.  This Is truly remarkable.

Mr. Gibbons obviously doesn’t feel handicapped.  He is reported in the article as saying:

• “What we’re (the U.S.) seeing much more of in this economy is dislocated workers.  We’re seeing people who have been dedicated, hard-working employees, who have skills for an industry that doesn’t exist anymore”; and,

• “We’ve got to think long term.  Because otherwise, we won’t have a long term.”

One can only hope this article is placed squarely on the desk of every Washington politician this morning, that they read it attentively and with a certain amount of awe, open their respective eyes a little wider, and actually see and relate to their world (which goes well beyond the U.S. borders) much more clearly and constructively than they currently seem to be doing.

As for Mr. Gibbons, I can only say ‘more than good on him’, while wishing him nothing but continued personal and business success.

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