6 Lessons From a Fate Exchange With MLK

As we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, Daily Coach co-founder Coach George Raveling reflects on and shares some timeless lessons from a fate exchange with Dr. King in 1963.

On Aug. 26, 1963, I was eating dinner at my best friend Warren Wilson’s house in Claymont, Delaware. Warren’s father, Dr. Woodrow Wilson, was a prominent dentist and suggested that we go to Washington, D.C., two days later for what was supposed to be a big Civil Rights rally.  

That same day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his aides were making final preparations on the speech he was set to deliver in 48 hours. But they were hesitant about four words in particular: “I have a dream.”

Dr. King, after all, had used this phrase many times, including at a recent fundraiser in Chicago and at rallies in Detroit and Selma, Alabama. Dr. King agreed it was “too trite and cliché.” He wouldn’t include it.

The following day, Dr. Wilson graciously loaned Warren and me his car, and we made the two-hour drive from Delaware to Washington, checking into a motel on New York Avenue. We wanted to see if there was any activity and walked over to the Washington Monument. That’s when a gentleman approached us and asked if we had any interest in volunteering at the event.

The details of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom remain etched in my mind — and I still reflect on the day’s many leadership lessons. I also ask myself several questions:

If Warren and I did not arrive earlier than needed on the morning of the demonstration, would we still have been assigned to handle podium security on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial?

What if Dr. King did not deviate from the planned, written speech and did not utter the words “I Have a Dream” that day?

What if gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, a close confidant to Dr. King who was seated behind him at the podium, did not encourage him to tell the people about the dream? Would the speech still have the impact as one of the greatest ever?

What if the organizers did not allow Dr. King to go over the designated five-minute speech limit that other presenters had to abide by?

I’ve been asked hundreds of times over the course of my life what made me approach Dr. King in the maelstrom that ensued that day and what was possibly racing through my head when I asked him for the physical copy of the speech.  

To that, I always smile and say, "I have no idea. But I’m sure glad that I did."

As we honor Dr. King today, two days after what would’ve been his 93rd birthday, I share with you six lessons I learned that day that continue to be ingrained in who I am and who I still aspire to become.

1. Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Dr. Wilson, Warren's father, did not have to loan us his car and give us money to attend the demonstrations, but he did so out of the pure grace of his heart. Being surrounded by an extraordinary family like the Wilsons afforded me some invaluable opportunities that I never would’ve had otherwise. The Wilsons helped me tap into my own unique and unlimited potential — and they knew the true value of a kind word, touch, gesture and smile. They taught me early on that people will always remember how you made them feel. Their generosity forever changed my life and shaped my outlook on serving others.

2. The Preciousness of Time: Arrive Early

Success does not have business hours. It only has production hours. Lessons are constantly presented to us each day, and it is our responsibility as leaders to remain cognizant of these opportunities for growth. If we focus on the present and what is actually in our control, we can create tremendous momentum in our lives and the lives of those we lead. The process is never merely a destination but a transformative journey of self-discovery. The only thing that is ever guaranteed is this moment.

3. Embrace the Unknown: Maximize the Moment

We hear it constantly, but we have a duty to make the most of every opportunity we are afforded. Each day is a gift, an interview, a new story, a celebration, a blank canvas, an intellectual journey and a negotiation. We cannot allow events to pass us by, even if the time, funding and circumstances are not entirely right. We must use our 86,400 seconds each day to maximize our potential as positive-difference makers in the life of another.

4. Never Be Afraid to Ask For What You Want

One of life’s most significant challenges is to differentiate between what the world expects of us and what we expect of ourselves. If we simply strive to be normal, we will never know how transcendent we can actually become. We must see what others do not, and do and ask what others are afraid to. We must look beyond what is and toward what can be — and, even further, into what should be.

5. Leaving A Legacy: Servant Leadership

At the end of each day, our fundamental responsibility is to serve those we lead. With that as the foundation, we figure out the needs of our teams, as well as the needs of its individual members. The needs in Selma might have been different than the needs in Jackson, Mississippi, or the needs of those in Detroit and D.C. As we go along, the one thing that must become abundantly clear for us as servant leaders is that it is never about "Me" and always about "We." It becomes incumbent upon us to reflect on the question: “How can I best serve the needs of my team?”

6. The Power Of A Dream

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is still a constant reminder to me of the real value a dream has and the responsibilities that come with having one. I have learned from Dr. King to be a dream maker — to assist people in turning their dreams into realities. There is no question that August 28, 1963, was a day that inspired and empowered me to re-evaluate how I lived and what I believed my contributions to society should be.

The time is here and now for us as leaders to take a stand, to do better, to be better, and to practice daily the powerful essence of love, unity and empathy. There is no finish line to our dreams.

The "I Have a Dream" speech is every bit as relevant today as it was 58 years ago. Reflecting on its words allows us to keep Dr. King’s truth-telling vision at the center of our minds, hearts and spirit as we become positive change agents.

For us as leaders, today and every day, we can live out the true meaning of Dr. King’s grand crescendo: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”