People Builder vs Project Builder

Steve Jobs is worldwide known as the man who changed the style of communication and entertainment. This man succeeded in leaving his mark on this world. Mark Zuckerberg is worldwide known as the man who brought social media to our attention. This man succeeded in leaving his mark on this world. And if we were to do a Google or Wikipedia search for people who have had an international impact through their projects for which they worked, sweated, lived and then died we would surely find whole pages, written biographies, books and launched websites.

Some of them still live and some left. Their projects remained or perished. They are project builders.

However, I haven’t heard enough talk of people who succeeded in changing other lives. I haven’t read enough about someone who stood near a “People builder” who influenced their life, work style, creative style. Some would call them leaders.

Unfortunately, the word “leader” has completely lost its meaning these days. Today we worship the leader in a casual suit, with a stripped tie and perfect hair. Today we sell this leader on large website headlines and cover photos, CD covers and cheap rollups. I’m sorry, but for me those are not people builders, those are just mascots whose batteries haven’t yet run out.

I recently finished a book by Christian author Philip Yancey –„Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church” In this book he talked about people who helped influence his life. Besides religion, Christianity and God, this man told stories about people builders from his life. He talked about a doctor who gave up a Nobel prize just to live among Indians and help them. He talked about people builders who failed but made the choice to go on helping people.

I don’t want to end this article on “the world needs people builders” cliché heading towards a motivational thought that will maybe move some readers. I don’t care if you’ll hold me accountable for writing a stupid thing.

I only hope that somewhere, in an office corner or at a bus station there is still a people builder thinking about people, not projects.

Project Builder | Shutterstock