Lessons From The Backseat (The Friday Ficks S5 E26)

“Go to America to practice law. There’s nothing but corruption here.”

That’s what one Afghan father - a lawyer himself - told his son before sending him off in search of something better.

His son was my Uber driver in Washington, DC last month.

What began as a casual conversation about a U-Haul rental quickly turned into something deeper - something unexpectedly human.

He shared that he arrived in the U.S. in 2022. He’s now studying for the LSAT and dreams of attending one of the country’s top law schools.

His English? Flawless, and entirely self-taught in just three years.

His plan? Attend law school part-time while continuing to work and send money home.

His question to me? “Is there any way to afford it without a scholarship?”

We discussed tuition reimbursement programs offered by large employers like United Technologies and other creative pathways he hadn’t yet explored. He listened - not passively,

but with full attention, gratitude and resolve.

When I stepped out of that car I felt something shift. I was inspired by his courage, his clarity, and above all, his commitment.

And I was reminded, yet again, that leadership isn’t just about having vision or giving direction.

It’s about judging less. Listening more. And staying open - to ideas, to people, to possibility.

Because sometimes the best lessons don’t come from boardrooms or books.

Sometimes they come from the back seat of a rideshare on a rainy morning in DC.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl