Book Excerpt: "Helium: Leveraging the Power of Community to Lift Yourself and Others" by Kerry Ramsay

Source: 20th Century Fox

"Any upward movement is movement for us all.”

~ Dorothy Vaughan

The following passage is excerpted from Chapter 7 ("What Lifts Us Higher") of my new book, Helium: Leveraging the Power of Community to Lift Yourself and Others.

In the 2016 movie Hidden Figures, Dorothy Vaughan, played by Octavia Spencer, embodies the essence of Blue Sky Thinking.

In the film, Dorothy is portrayed as a mathematician and one of the first African American women to work at NASA.

Her powerful line, “Any upward movement is movement for us all” beautifully captures LIFT Theory in a single sentence.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Along with many of the women of her time, Dorothy fought for recognition and leadership in a segregated workplace. She recognized that breaking down systemic barriers was not just a personal victory, but also an important step in freeing others as well.

Dorothy’s approach reflects Blue Sky Thinking, where growth and success are limitless when we focus on unity and collaboration. By seeing her progress as part of a bigger "upward movement," she created an environment where innovation and progress are the result of lifting others as we succeed.

Reflect + Rise:

What does the phrase “upward movement” mean to you? How does it relate to thinking beyond your own limitations and audacious goal setting?

To order a copy of "Helium" for your own bookshelf, click here.