These stories are all too common: After years of hard work pursuing the Dream, these self-motivated high achievers reach the pinnacle of success that is so richly deserved. And — you guessed it; they let success go to their head. Whatever happened to being humble?
These people think they are so special. They buy expensive “toys” to show how successful they have become, and they push aside colleagues who have helped them achieve success. They abandon the values and principles that have made them successful. And worse yet, because they are successful in one area of their life, they come to think they are experts in everything. Why? They are so enamored with their own PR that their ego hardly fits in the room. Unfortunately, a swollen ego can cut short the payoff that these people worked so hard to attain.
The simple truth is that not everyone treats success the same. Some people who achieve success remain humble, never forgetting who they are and where they came from. The others? Well, we can learn from their mistakes:
From Humble Beginnings
Success is temporary. Success is a journey, not a destination. When you become successful, do not rest on your laurels. As soon as you take your eye off the ball, you risk losing your edge.
Stop feeding your ego. Do not isolate yourself from reality by building relationships with people who stroke your ego. Surrounding yourself with “yes people” is just like talking to yourself.
Compete against yourself. When you compete against others, it is easy to emphasize winning over self-improvement. However, when you compete against yourself, you both win.
Even experts have room to learn. Never stop growing. Know your limitations and admit when you do not know something. It will help to keep you grounded.
Listen up. Discover what others have to offer and ask for their opinions before opening your mouth. It shows that you value their opinions as well as their insight.
No one is perfect. Do not let success go to your head. Be quick to apologise for your mistakes. You will never learn anything or impress anyone by making excuses and diverting blame. And a little humility will remind you that you are human.
Share your success. You may be successful, but there is a good chance others helped you along the way. Find creative ways to share the credit and pull people up the ladder of success along with you.
Remember your roots. Remember where you came from and what you have learned along the way. Help others by mentoring them.
Get off your high horse. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. You may be successful, but that does not make you better than anyone else.
Bragging is ugly. There is a difference between excitement and bragging. We know you are thrilled about your new “toy,” but others may be cutting back on their basic needs — be sensitive. As John Wooden said, “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
Trust me. Money and success cannot buy a person’s trust or guarantee a good reputation. You earn these through your words AND actions. There is nothing more valuable in life than integrity. Trust me.
In My Humble Opinion
Many of us come from humble beginnings. We make something of ourselves through pursuit of knowledge, integrity, hard work, and a bit of good fortune. Yes, people have every right to be proud of the success that they have earned. But that does not give them the right to be rude or disrespectful to others.
Some people get a big thrill from boasting about their accomplishments or showing off their possessions. They have convinced themselves that they are better than others. The fact is, some people let success go to their head, and they gain a weird satisfaction from pushing people around. That is wrong. On the other hand, just as it is disgusting for the “haves” to look down on others, it’s equally disdainful for “have-nots” to resent those who’ve worked hard and have rightfully earned their success.
The truth is, all the money in the world does not make you a better person. It simply means that you have more money. Real wealth is achieved by appreciating what you already have in life. After all, money cannot buy everything. It can not buy a close-knit family, good friends, a clear conscience, work-life balance, a happy home, a second chance in life, or good karma, among other things.
So, do not let success go to your head. Be humble. Humility is a sign of strength, not weakness. People with humility possess an inner peace. They are modest about their achievements, grounded in their values, and they have nothing to prove to others. They are down to earth, comfortable in their own skin, and quietly proud. Humble people shift their focus from taking to giving, from talking about themselves to listening to others, from hoarding the credit to deflecting the praise, and from being a “know-it-all” to knowing there’s so much more in life worth learning. There is no ego, no pretense, and certainly no gamesmanship. Humble people are authentic. As C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Copyright with thanks to Frank Sonnenburg
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