Let's Stay Together

At a campaign fundraiser  at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, President Obama took the stage, crooning a line from Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" during his speech.  After the President's rendition the sales jumped 490%.  There are some lessons from this for Esperanza:

1. Great things can come from small things
2. Music is powerful
3. Take a risk

Also, the lyrics of this song can be applied to us at Esperanza. 


Al Green's "Let's Stay Together"

I, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do is all right with me'
Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Let me say that since, alright, since we've been together
Loving you forever is what I need
Oh let me be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue
Oh let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad, alright, oh yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh tell me why, why, why, why, why, why
Why people break up, turn around and make up
I can't see, you never, never, never do that to me
You better not do, staying around you is all
All these eyes will ever see
Why won't you say that me, everybody says
That let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Everybody says, "Let's, let's stay together
I'll keep on lovin' you whether, whether
Times are, oh times are good or times are bad
Whether, whether good or bad, happy or sad
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Another Great Lesson From Pritchett

In another chapter in his booklet Business As Unusual Pritchett speaks of the need to encourage risk-taking and initiative. He says, "Get the message across to everyone that you will be tolerant of mistakes, but intolerant of inertia." In other words, we want our Esperanza people to be independent-thinking, decisive, and action-oriented. This is especially important because we are building "a ship" that has never been built before so there is a strong need for everyone to be willing to enter unchartered waters...and thus make many mistakes.