‘Do the right thing’

Foundational values such as trust, integrity, honesty and hard work, as demonstrated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are the keys to healing societal divisions in the United States, according to Nick O. Rowe.

“To make this world a better place, the majority of us have to continue to do the right thing,” Rowe said. The old values are still important.

A 35-year executive with the nation’s largest private water utility, Rowe addressed a crowd at the Living the Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program at Ivy Tech Community College’s Richmond campus on Monday, Jan. 20. He is now a coach for business executives.

King, a civil rights leader assassinated in 1968, lived his values. Rowe called King “a great servant leader who gave everything he had, including his life.” 

Rowe “talked about unity,” said Xavier Ogle, a Richmond High School senior who attended as part of the Wayne County Writers group that performed during the program. “Strong community starts with the family. That was the premise of Martin Luther King, taking the hit to the cheek and turning the other way.”

Another of the Wayne County Writers, Michael Lynch-Seda, said King saw how people are separated by racism and other divisive issues. “He focused on bringing people together,” he said.

Among points Rowe made to about 200 people at the breakfast:

• Surround yourself with positive people; avoid negative people.
• Be a cheerleader for others, don’t steal their joy.
• Live your legacy; retirement comes awfully fast.
• Do what you say you’re going to do. Your word is everything.
• If you work for an organization, add value. “If you came in today, would you hire you?”
• When you are wrong or make a mistake, admit it; don’t blame your parents, don’t blame the situation.
• Save the best for first. The work-life balance for him has been faith, family, career. “Who controls that? You do.”
• Leave something good behind wherever you go. Don’t leave baggage.
• Listen more, talk less.
• In the end, it will be OK. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.

Ian MacDonald, a Richmond High School student, said a major takeaway for him is to “spread yourself around positive people.” A book he read, “The Rabbit Effect,” cited a study showing that people who surround themselves with positive people live longer. “When in doubt, show kindness,” he said.

The Indiana American Water Charitable Foundation helped sponsor Rowe’s appearance in Richmond. A former executive vice president of American Water Company, Rowe had served as president of the Kentucky American Water Company. 

The annual event is organized by Ivy Tech’s diversity, equity and belonging office, whose director, Toure’ Conley, said he appreciated Rowe’s emphasis on responsibility, accountability and time, along with building your legacy.

The program included short messages by about a dozen students who meet weekly as the Wayne County Writers.

“It all fits together,” said Kiarra Handley, one of the student speakers. About King, she said, “His legacy is empowering us to speak up and have the confidence to do what he did.”