Open one door
Most people don’t need a handout, they need a chance.
That’s something I’ve seen over and over again - in business, in community work, and in life generally. There are plenty of capable people out there who are ready to work, ready to contribute, but for one reason or another, they don’t get the opportunity.
And without that first opportunity, nothing starts.
We often talk about potential as if it’s something abstract. It’s not. Potential is very real, but it only becomes visible when someone is given the chance to prove it. Until then, it sits there, unused and often overlooked.
I started my working life in a job that most people wouldn’t look twice at. It taught me a lot, not just about work, but about people. You learn quickly that there’s no shortage of effort out there. What’s often missing is access.
That’s why I’ve always believed that one of the most practical things any business can do is open its doors a little wider. Not in theory. In practice. Hiring someone who doesn’t tick every box on paper. Giving someone a start who hasn’t had a smooth path. Backing someone based on attitude, not just experience.
This is not about lowering standards, it’s about recognising that capability doesn’t always come packaged the way we expect it to.
When you give someone a genuine opportunity, two things happen. First, you change that person’s trajectory. Work brings stability, confidence, and a sense of purpose. It flows into other parts of life - family, health, community. The impact is bigger than the job itself. Second, you strengthen your own organisation. People who are given a real chance tend to value that opportunity. They show up, they contribute, and they stay. That kind of commitment is hard to manufacture.
This isn’t complicated, and it doesn’t require big programs or complex strategies.
It starts with a decision to look beyond the obvious, to believe in people, and to open one door where it might otherwise stay closed. Because for someone on the other side of that door, it could mean everything.