Humble In and Humble Out
Consistently in this course that has been an underlying but overarching theme that appears subtlety in all the lessons. That theme is humility.
In this week’s readings, I was impressed again by the implication that humility is needed in all aspects of life, including business pursuits. And think about it: who likes a cocky know it all? The humility that I have been reading about this week is two-fold. First, the analysis of your humility and success comes from what others have learned and become because of you. The second is how you have learned and changed from others.
“To see the teacher clearly, look at the students. They are his work of art.” – George Leonard
I love that quote. As an artist, I’m always trying to perfect, perform, and instill a sensation of awe. My pieces are my art. But can that not apply to people as well? If I were to teach someone what I know, would their success be gauged by how well I think I have taught, or by how they have taken what they have learned, improved, and surpassed me? I think the latter is obvious.
I’ve been teaching a young girl how to play the piano on and off over the past year. I have gone back to the basics with her, and am re-learning week by week, but I have also warned my pupil that there will come a time that she will need to find a new teacher – I didn’t make it very far in my pursuit of the piano, and my skills are manageable at best. This concept doesn’t annoy or scare me. I am excited by the opportunity she has to move up and on to levels of greatness that I never worked hard enough or made enough time to achieve.
“The challenge is to take advantage of the feedback you get.” (Acton)
If anyone does not like being told what to do, I am the champion. I claim to be stubbornly independent, but I’m not certain that is always a benefit. Will it help when I’m home alone and I realize the cats have both gotten outside and I have to look for them at midnight (because I stayed up late doing homework…)? Yes. This recently happened, and both cats are safely home. Will this attitude of self-dependence benefit when I have blinders on thinking everything is going smoothly and there is something that needs adjusting that I can’t see but another can? Well, no. This is where the application of the teaching is needed. It can be tricky, even uncomfortable, but with practice it is possible.
I like to think that I am humble enough to at least listen, but I think there is a vast amount of improvement to be had to put what I hear into what I do.