“Nothing is too wonderful to be true” – these words of Michael Faraday, a 19th century chemist, describe my glorious and fortunate life. I have been truly overwhelmed with opportunities.

“Nothing is too wonderful to be true” – these words of Michael Faraday, a 19th century chemist, describe my glorious and fortunate life. I have been truly overwhelmed with opportunities.

“WHY do you do what you do?” is a question most people are never asked and one that might elicit a simple response – “to survive.” In my case, the question becomes “Why do you choose to do what you do?” I am among the few who have the luxury of being surrounded by many choices to work on things we find interesting, a circumstance we sometimes even foolishly label “stress.”

I was surrounded by the love of wonderful immigrant parents. I grew up in Alabama in the 1950’s where I was profoundly influenced by the civil rights movement and I strive for equal opportunity in all aspects of life.

This essay and portrait is part of a community-art and leadership project called “wdydwyd?” Tony Deifell (KNLP-16) invited his colleagues in the Kellogg Fellowship to reflect on what motivates them to follow their personal and professional paths by answering the question, “Why do you do what you do?”


“wdydwyd?” has reached over 1.5 million people worldwide and it has been used for team-building at Google, Twitter, many colleges and universities, nonprofits and K-12 classrooms. And, according to Wired Magazine, “In Silicon Valley, that question has been the hottest team-building meme since Outward Bound – and it’s spreading.” For more information: http://wdydwyd.com/leadership.


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