August 29th marks the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Being a native New Orleanian, this event had a life altering impact on my family and friends, not to mention the other locals.
The days and months that followed brought out the best and worst in people. From citizens rescuing one another and rebuilding together, to looters and murderers, the city experienced the full spectrum of human behavior.
“Tough times don’t build character, they reveal character,” I once heard someone say. Time after time we see this phenomenon- from the BP oil spill to the meltdown on Wall Street.
In hard times our core essence comes through. What exists will be revealed. As leaders, our role is to make certain that what is revealed in good or tough times is honesty, integrity and the truth. It is our duty to champion these qualities.
Katrina changed the future of New Orleans and her citizens forever. This tip is a tribute to the courage, patience and steadfastness of those who have and who are rebuilding the city. In addition to bricks and mortar, they have also built and revealed character.