A Lesson From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

1/19/26

One of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes is: “𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒.”

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  This day represents more than a day off or a moment of remembrance. It honors a leader who believed progress begins with courage, compassion, and action—especially when the path forward isn’t clear. MLK reminded us that meaningful change happens when people are willing to stand up, speak honestly, and commit to doing better together.

I think about this often when I see organizations struggling with an unhappy workforce. Low morale, disengagement, burnout, or constant turnover can feel overwhelming. Leaders sense something is wrong, but they don’t always know where to begin.

That’s where becoming a 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞® organization comes in. It applies to any workplace—a construction company, a medical practice, a law firm, a nonprofit, or a growing startup. Built to Thrive isn’t about perfection. It’s about taking that first step: listening, involving people, and turning conversations into real, achievable actions. When employees feel respected, included, and clear on where they’re going, trust rebuilds, energy returns, and work starts to feel purposeful again.

You don’t need the whole staircase. You just need the willingness to step forward. That’s how unhappy workplaces heal—and how strong, resilient cultures are built.

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once to change the experience of your workforce. Thriving cultures are built one intentional step at a time. Here are three that make an immediate difference:

𝟏. 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞.
Create space for honest conversations—and really hear what’s being said without defensiveness. Clarity begins when people feel safe enough to tell the truth.

𝟐. 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
Choose just a few achievable changes and commit to them. Progress builds trust faster than promises, and small wins restore hope.

𝟑. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
When employees help shape the path forward, ownership replaces disengagement. People support what they help create.

These simple steps don’t require seeing the whole staircase—just the courage to take the first one.