I cannot say I always act with humility, but I am conscious of it and try to practice it. Where do you stand with humility?
Today I often see people talking about how great they are or everything they have accomplished. Often those people fail to recall that their success comes not only from hard work but also a team effort. There were others who helped them along the way… but those folks seem to forget about those that have supported them… or truly decide not to recognize them. This lack of humility often comes back to bite them. Let’s face it we all know a few of those folks… call them egotistical or arrogant or whatever label you want to put on them… (especially when the self acclaimed prowess or belief of personal importance is truly unjustified).
I learned a long time ago that humility does not mean weak or lacking in self confidence. It means being humble and unassuming. I once worked (in the 1980’s) for a man who had a multi-million-dollar empire. He was self made… grew his businesses from nothing to owning and operating critical businesses in the provincial economy. He drove a station wagon from the 1970’s. It was over 10 years old. He travelled in economy class on planes or trains. He went to community events with is family. His gifts to charities were anonymous and no big flash or announcements. He was very unassuming… very humble. An “unofficial” mentor for me.
What I learned by watching him were a few things. He never sat at the front of a room at an event or function. He sat at the back to let others be at the front. He did not want to draw attention to himself as “important”. He was never of that belief that he was there to “see and be seen”… be was there for the purpose of the event (be that a hockey game or a gala or conference). He always positioned himself (be that at an event or in a Board Room meeting or the staff lunchroom) as part of the team or “just another guy” watching the game or supporting a cause or eating his lunch.
This man (and he would not want me to name him) was humble. His opinions mattered and people listened when he spoke. But he spoke with humbleness and an open mind. And he always “blended in” (like white noise) versus wanting to “show off” and be at the front of the room or the flashiest car or the accolades. Think about it. Which person are you and which person do you really want to be?
To meet so many of our industry leaders that are truly like my “mentor” – humble and giving, join us at the Western Sponsorship Congress® – Saskatchewan Forum. on April 8-9 in Saskatoon. These speakers and presenters are there as volunteers who pay their own way and freely share their insight and knowledge from the goodness of their hearts and their humbleness. Those are the people I want to learn from!
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