Why Good People Are Like Vampires

Why Good People Are Like Vampires. It’s an interesting analogy to use in business.

In 1998 the movie Blade was released starring Wesley Snipes. This movie explains a world existing with both humans and vampires. It details how humans continue to go about their lives not knowing about the dark underbelly culture of vampires existing in the shadows. Within the movie, the vampires have created clans, alliances, professional networks, financial independence, and structure. Their community is well-resourced, well-run, and powerful.

Since leaving the military I have observed the corporate world through a number of different lenses:

• Veteran lens
• Family lens
• Charity/Non-for-Profit lens
• Business Owner lens

My observations are leading me towards a unique standpoint; ‘good people’ are similar in so many ways to the vampire community in Blade, except their intent is entirely different.

Observations

I continually see positive and passionate individuals attracting other amazing individuals. They are conceiving, planning, and delivering amazing initiatives behind the scenes of many others who are worried only about themselves. These amazing people are:

• Having backdoor discussions to find ways to resource positive projects that will help others.
• Linking positive people with other powerful networks
• Finding ways around the red tape and bureaucracy in order to get positive and rewarding ideas up and moving
• Negating the effects of negativity and toxic work cultures by providing each other with support networks and frameworks which allow them to maintain their resilience and momentum when the odds are against them
• The list goes on…

The Eighth Mile Consulting

I feel truly honoured that positive people would include me and my team in this exclusive sub-culture. It is something I prize and take very seriously but entry is not free. It requires the demonstration of certain behaviours and values in order to be considered for entry. These characteristics and behaviours are evidently not for everyone:

• Our projects and ideas must serve others. This might be the environment, the community, and professional and personal development. It is okay to make money. No one should say otherwise, but the higher purpose must be there!
• People are willing to ‘put skin in the game’. This might mean having to receive a temporary revenue hit because you choose not to support a negative organisation, project, or individual. It might mean, donating time to things that don’t make money but significantly help others. It might also equate to working after or before hours in order to support something you might never see the benefits of, but you know will help people.
• We are always loyal to other positive people! Your actions speak louder than words. When one of the team is knocked down, we all bond together and fight the negativity away. No excuses. I am not going to suggest that this is always easy. Because it is not. It also requires making hard decisions at times. But it is a necessary feature of the community and it is a criterion for claiming to be a ‘good person’.

Conclusion

We founded The Eighth Mile Consulting on a mantra of ‘Good People, Helping Good People’. In doing so we accept that this means there is a level of exclusivity in what we do. We also accept that in some ways it will affect our revenue and growth. I don’t care.

Good people attract good people and that’s enough for me. Of note though, being a good person is rightfully great for business.

I put it to you that if you are surprisingly absent from these positive people and these backdoor discussions. Then you might not have been invited in yet. Not to worry. You now know the rules of the game and the expectations associated with entry.

I hope in time we might cross paths and be involved in the same positive projects and initiatives. Until then, safe travels.

David Neal

David Neal Is a leader, strategist, founder, project and change manager, as well as a practical consultant for clients such as the ADA NSW, University of Sydney, Australian Defence Force, Prescare, RSL Queensland, MedReleaf, and KPMG. ​He is one of the authors of ‘Growing Good Leaders’ which focuses on developing high performing teams and running projects. He travels throughout Australia and overseas helping others to simplify the complex. His time serving in the military has provided him with vast experience in leadership, complex problem solving, project and risk management. He has chosen mateship, family and helping good people as his path.