Framing Fraternity

There is an old leadership parable that I heard once, and has resonated with me ever since:

A woman saw three men laying bricks…
She approached the first and asked, "What are you doing?"
Annoyed, the first man answered, "What does it look like I’m doing? I’m laying bricks!"
She walked over to the second bricklayer and asked the same question.
The second man responded, "Oh, I’m making a wall."
She asked the third bricklayer the same question, "What are you doing?"
The third looked up, smiled and said, "I’m building a castle."

I believe that in life, how you frame your experiences determines how you live them.

If you believe you are laying bricks, then that’s what you will do.  And that’s the limited experience you will face when you get out of bed each morning. 

And if you believe your fraternity or sorority is just another extracurricular activity or club, then that’s all it will be.  All it can be. 




To read the rest of this essay, as well as many others, order your copy of Forever Fraternity: Essays to Challenge, Celebrate and Advance the College Fraternity