Don't Wait for Someone Else to Fix It

CHAPTER SIXEmbrace Empathy and Compassion

Michael Brindisi first learned compassion from his father. He grew up in a modest Italian neighborhood of well‐kept row houses in inner‐city Philadelphia. When it snowed, which wasn't that often in Philly, Michael's dad would eagerly grab his shovel and clear their front walkway. Then he'd shovel out the walkways of four or five nearby houses. Michael's mom cared deeply about her husband and used to worry that he would overexert himself. She'd ask him, “Why did you do all that shoveling?”

Michael's father gave the same answer every time: “Because I can.” Today, Michael is the long‐time CEO and artistic director of the prestigious Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) in greater Minneapolis, the largest professional dinner theater in the United States. CDT offers an appealing menu of Broadway musicals, comedy, cabaret, and concerts, paired with an upscale dining experience. Chanhassen is a special place, and not just because of the caliber of its productions and performers, some of whom have become famous after working at CDT. For example, two‐time Golden Globe winner Amy Adams spent three years at Chanhassen before launching her Hollywood career. The heart of Chanhassen is a core group of people who have stayed with CDT for years. Chanhassen is a hard place to leave. As Amy Adams noted when she left Chanhassen:

There were times when I first arrived in Los Angeles where I would pine for that time when I knew exactly what was in front of ...