CEO Corner

Do you feel lucky?

Many of us are so busy balancing work, familial, and other responsibilities, that we don’t stop to consider how lucky we are, particularly compared to billions of others around the world. Most Americans and Canadians take housing, food, and safe drinking water for granted. Virtually all SWANA members have important and satisfying jobs in the solid waste sector. Having traveled to many developing nations, and witnessing widespread poverty and environmental degradation, I know I have become increasingly aware of how lucky I am.

I was also lucky that I was born into a (mostly) stable family that stressed education and curiosity at an early age. My parents encouraged me to read at a very young age, and many nights after bedtime, I was reading under the covers using a flashlight (sorry Mom). They saved so they could afford to send me to college, without requiring me to take out loans. My wife Donna and I have paid that forward to our three children, and they are aware of how lucky they are compared to some of their friends.

I am also fortunate that I was born as a white male, and never had to face discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation.

I attended a business conference earlier this month at which a speaker discussed how people who work hard make their own luck. They quoted the Roman philosopher Seneca, who stated that “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” I had heard the expression before, but never really thought about it. I think there is a lot of validity to this expression. Luck isn’t just about winning the lottery, and it isn’t about finding four-leaf clovers. People who work hard get more opportunities to succeed. People who work hard often get promoted. But not everyone who works hard gets these opportunities and promotions.

As the solid waste sector transitions and many of our current leaders move on or retire, we will be welcoming a new generation of industry leaders. I expect that most of these individuals are hard workers. Let’s encourage them to feel like they are lucky to have chosen a career in solid waste management and resource management, and provide them with the guidance, mentoring, and visibility opportunities they need to be successful.

Some of these opportunities will be at SOAR in Atlanta on April 17–20 and at WASTECON in Boston on September 27–29. I look forward to seeing you there.