I often think back to the midnight shift on the janitorial crew. For many people I met on the job, their entire professional lifetimes would be spent pouring chemicals on the floor after a country music concert, even as they were capable of much more--if they'd simply had an option for career growth or the chance to go back to school.

There is no shame in these jobs, but there is great shame for society and its leaders when a life is made less than what it could be because of a lack of opportunity. The obligation of those in positions of power and privilege is to shape our policies to extend the opportunities that will come with the industries of the future to as many people as possible.