Be a White Collar Hero

On HGTV’s popular show, Holmes on Homes, Canadian contractor Mike Holmes rescues homeowners from repair and renovation disasters perpetrated by less-than-competent tradesmen. This weekend, I watched several shows back to back, while toiling on our elliptical machine. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this burly blue collar hero right the wrongs of shoddy electrical work, half-hearted carpentry, and unfulfilled project promises. Don’t you just have to love a guy with “MAKE IT RIGHT” tattooed on his bicep? Be still my heart! Mike Holmes and the dedication he has to his chosen blue collar profession got me thinking. When workers aspire to make the move from blue collar jobs into white collar professions, what are they really longing for? Big salaries, long lunches, 2-week vacations, and fancy cars? Is a white collar identity really the ultimate success? There’s no doubt that the white collar executive profile has taken a beating lately, as a result of those who have let their power take them to the dark side. Eliot Spitzer, former governor of NY, was hailed as a hero for how he pursued organized crime – until he was discovered to be a client of a prostitution ring under investigation by the federal government. Bernie Madoff was a trusted stock broker and investment advisor - until his fraudulent Ponzi scheme was uncovered and he was sentenced to 150 years in jail. Former CFO Jeffrey Skilling will be in jail until 2028 for his involvement in the collapse of energy giant Enron. “Feel good” news stories about heroes often seem to be about regular-guy, blue collar types… The guy on the way to work who risks his own safety to save the woman who falls onto the commuter train tracks… The neighbor who runs into a house on fire to rescue an 80-year old in a wheelchair… The sanitation worker who finds and returns a priceless memento mistakenly discarded by its owner. There is a simplicity to the goodness and the rightness of these actions that does not fail to be heartwarming and inspiring. Where are our White Collar Heroes? I know they are out there, although they rarely end up on the TV news. They stand firm against unethical activity in their organizations. They treat employees fairly and care about career growth of others. They challenge the status quo and boldly introduce new ideas. They share their business expertise outside work to make their communities better. I’ve worked with a few of these heroes over the years. I wish there were more. Be a White Collar Hero. Do what’s right every day, and make a difference.