The World Was Created for You!

Why would an African American, Christian man begin a blog series by

sharing a teaching from a 19th century Polish Rabbinic scholar? Because

it holds universal truths. Because it holds truths, I identify with. Imagine

being eight years old, living in one of the most economically deprived

areas of the country and waking up to find your mother, the only parent

you know, lying dead on the couch from a drug overdose. Depressed,

discouraged, disconsolate? Absolutely. But something in that moment,

something in the years I spent in foster care until I aged out at 21, gave

me the faith and the hope that indeed, the world was created for me, too.

I went on to earn advanced degrees in social work, business and

theology, and for the first 20 years of my career I worked in faith-based

and other non-profit organizations. I wanted to change lives. I wanted

the charitable sector to fix all the inequities, in housing, in health care,

in education, that are rooted in income disparity. High and mighty?

Maybe.

Those 20 years of trying to improve the lives of others and the humility

to know I was not making transformational change led to what is hard to

describe. At the time, I was the CEO of the United Way of Greater St.

Louis, hosting a meeting of the Board of Directors of Midwest

BankCentre. With my hands in both pockets, I listened to men and

women talk about how they wanted to take the bank to the next level,

about a succession plan for the bank’s CEO, a beloved leader, and a

robust discussion about culture.

I was the last speaker. In the midst of my presentation, after having

listened to the board wrestle with where the bank was and where we

wanted it to go, I literally had an out-of-body experience. It was short of

crazy to think I could make this kind of a switch, but I couldn’t shake

what I had heard in the two major presentations that preceded mine. I

have heard some articulate the notion that sometimes you get lucky. I

don’t believe in luck, I believe in divinely orchestrated connections.

During my presentation, I also felt like I connected with a number of

board members including the gentleman whose job I would soon be

offered. During the reception at the conclusion of the board meeting, the

Chairman and CEO and I had a conversation about the meeting. I asked

him what he wanted in a replacement and without hesitation, he asked if

I would be interested in his job. I don’t think I expected that question

and I don’t think I missed a breath to tell him “yes,” I am interested.

That’s how I became The Accidental Banker.

So why do I tell you all this? Because I believe we are all accidental

somethings. We often fall short of living our best lives because we fail

to challenge ourselves to stretch personally and professionally, and to

dare others to do the same. If I can use my journey as a way to inspire

others to do the impossible, it would be my highest calling. Through this

blog, I will share insight to navigate finance, community and the faith to

believe that the world was created for you, too.

I look forward to traveling together.