The 20 Things I Have in Common with Charles Koch

Charles Koch and I are unlikely bedfellows. While I won’t rattle off our long list of differences, I will say that in the past, when his name came up, I cringed.

Because I had long ago written him off, I was surprised when I kept getting nudges to read his book, Believe in People . I was even more surprised that while reading it, I found myself loudly exclaiming on several occasions - Yes! Eureka!

I’m inspired to share our surprising commonalities in the hopes it will more quickly bring about a world that I know is possible. 

Charles Koch and I both:

1. Had similar epiphanies that changed the trajectory of our lives, both personally and professionally. Charles’ epiphany was that progress comes from the bottom up; my epiphany was that each individual has innate (built-in) potential that, when realized, fundamentally changes the world.
2. Know on a visceral level that widespread change is dependent upon people achieving their potential. 
3. Believe in the intrinsic resilience of the human spirit
4. Have had a long passion for the role of education in society. 
5. Believe that there is no such thing as a throwaway kid.
6. Take an asset-based approach to people and education.
7. Acknowledge that the intentions in the education sector have been good, but the outcomes leave much to be desired. 
8. Know that the institution of education needs to break, not build, the barriers holding people back.
9. Recognize the truth in Einstein’s definition of insanity: expecting a different result using the same level of thinking that created the problem in the first place. 
10. Believe in flexible educational curriculum that allows educators to use their own innate wisdom.
11. Believe that everyone is capable of a mindset shift that open up possibilities for positive action and unprecedented collaborations.
12. Know that once you see a better way, you can’t unsee it. You start living it and showing it.
13. Passionate about everyone contributing because motivated millions leads to meaningful change. Every Who in Whoville needs to participate!
14. Adore the Frederick Douglass quote: “I would unite with anybody to do right; and with nobody to do wrong.” Diversity of allies is key to large scale change.
15. Count Abraham Maslow amongst our favorite authors for his insightful work on human needs, culminating in self-actualization. Self actualization = societal actualization.
16. Know that when we transform ourselves, we simultaneously help transform the world around us.
17. Know that people aren’t problems to be solved, but are often the source of the solution to whatever problem they are facing.
18. Have had hundreds of partnerships that have shown us what’s possible.
19. All of these things lead us to an evidence-based optimism that animates our work and propels us forward to the peace and prosperity that we know is possible. 
20. Our North Star is a society in which every person can realize their potential. 

Finally, on a separate but related note: if I can find 20 things in common with Charles Koch, I’m sure you can find a few things in common with people in your life with whom you usually disagree. I urge us all to be looking towards our commonalities and shared humanity - it’s where the secret sauce lies. 

If any of this resonates with you, and you are in need of a dose of hope and inspiration, check out our upcoming National Wellbeing and Resilience Conference . I’d love to connect with you there.