For a reason I can no longer remember I felt compelled while in high school to put into my memory the following poem:

Sometime when your pride is inflated;
Sometime when your ego’s in bloom;
Sometime when you take it for granted you’re the best qualified in the room …
Take a bucket and fill it with water;
Plunge your hand in up to the wrist.
Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining is the measure of how you’ll be missed. Anonymous

A mature leader never takes himself/herself too seriously. S/he had come to terms with and accepted how little s/he actually controls (see “What Do I Control?” for more on this subject).

The wise leader is not self-deceived into believing any illusion of indispensability or that the ultimate size of the crowd at their funeral will not be directly affected by the weather.

Categories: Ego, Empathy, Learning