Nygard’s Golden Jubilee Review
It’s not an everyday occurrence to discover an individual who has pulled himself up by his bootstraps to achieve phenomenal success with a business that’s still breaking barriers, still achieving firsts, and still innovating fifty years later. What does it take? How did he achieve it all? And how can we achieve similar successes?
That’s what we’ll explore in this tri-weekly series. We’ll break down fashion mogul Peter Nygard’s achievements and look at how his accomplishments can serve as practical applications to others in business and life.
Nygard Has A ‘Principle of Care’
The world of today is unrecognizable. So much has changed over the centuries. While we may have advanced technologically and medically, what have we lost in our quests?
Values have shifted to such an extent that the mores of old have gotten lost in the quest for success and power. In today’s world, where cold-heartedness abounds, you’d be hard pressed to find the generosity of spirit as the norm it once was.
This core spiritual principle appears to no longer be our standard: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17 New International Version)”
That’s why we are grateful to and for the Peter Nygards of the world. This fashion mogul has not turned his back on those in need on his rise to the top. He has what University of California Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center calls a “principle of care”.
In their 2018 research on the “Science of Generosity”, they explain this concept and its role in generosity:
“Research suggests that another determinant of helping behavior is the internalized moral value termed the “principle of care,” a belief that one should help someone in need (Ottoni Wilhelm & Bekkers, 2010) [152]
“A study of people in the United States and the Netherlands found that people who showed a strong moral principle of care also gave more money to charities that help people in need.”
The study suggests that some researchers also make a connection between the principle of caring and empathy as it explains:
“… people who empathize with someone in need are more likely to actually help that person because they are also more likely to have internalized the moral principle of care (Page 34 “The Science of Generosity” 2018).”
Nygard’s generosity over these years should be an example to many with the means to also adopt the principle of care and be generous. Once again, generosity is not required, but it is such a service to one’s country. Think about the inspiration it gives and the lives it impacts.
And, as a Harvard Business Reviewarticle explains, inspiration is important.
“In a culture obsessed with measuring talent and ability, we often overlook the important role of inspiration. Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.
“Inspiration may sometimes be overlooked because of its elusive nature. Its history of being treated as supernatural or divine hasn’t helped the situation. But as recent research shows, inspiration can be activated, captured, and manipulated, and it has a major effect on important life outcomes. (“Why Inspiration Matters” Scott Barry Kaufman)”
We can see this in action in the words of the Bahamian youth who was inspired from his visit to Nygard Cay when he said, “I really, really like it. Mr Nygard said that we can have a place like this if we want to work and dream so I am going to get one like this one day, too.”
It appears that this youth didn’t believe this was possible before being inspired by Peter Nygard.
Generosity doesn’t just provide the physical means. It helps provide the motivation, the believability and the will power to succeed, which are all important for any significant achievements in life.
Nygard’s giving doesn’t just have physical consequences as Bahamian boxing sensation Tureano Johnson shows in what he said to Nygard about his sponsorship: “I thank you for encouraging me. You have not just uplifted my boxing ability but also my spirit.”
The generosity of even one person can have a major domino effect. An inspired nation of youth has the potential to lift a country to great heights.
It therefore behooves every citizen of means to generously give; as 1 John 3:17 states, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
