The Leadership Philosopher Simon Sinek once told a beautiful story:
As he was listening to the speaker at a conference—a former high-ranking member of the defense department—the speaker held a Styrofoam cup aloft.
“I was at this conference last year. My flight was first class and when I arrived, they gave me coffee in a beautiful ceramic cup. Today, I am not an Undersecretary in the defense department. I flew here coach. When I asked for coffee they pointed to the Machine in the corner and a stack of Styrofoam cups.”
“I was only ever worth the Styrofoam Cup” he said.
There is an interesting problem as you climb the ladder of success. People will on average treat you with more respect. Actually, if you just wear a neatly tucked button-down shirt people will treat you like you’re successful.
The higher you climb the more you are treated like something different, something special. You aren’t though. If you were sitting homeless on the street today, you wouldn’t be any less you. Perhaps you’re special because you exist, but that’s about as far as it goes.
There is a real danger—at least for me—when you climb the ladder success and titles. It is too easy to forget that everyone is fighting a hard battle and you have earned no more respect than them.
The Martial Arts world is brimming with fancy titles:
🏆Hanshi
🏆Master
🏆Sensei
🏆Sa Ba Nim
🏆Sempai
Personally, I get introduced as Master Magill more often than Colan. Do you know what that tells people? Nothing. Nothing at all. Well…
It does tell you that somebody claims I be respected. Or, that I’ve given myself the title.
Master- doesn’t tell you about the hour’s I’ve spend studying child psychology just to help on more kid. That title can’t tell you about the number of hours I’ve slaved away to accomplish my vision.
It forgets the kind of failures that I choose not to talk about because I haven’t conquered my shame. There is no room in the word to express the labors I suffered to earn it.
All that title does it remind everyone that I’m at this point of the hierarchy.
Yet, the day I finally earned it I cried…
I didn’t cry because of the title. I cried because I accomplished what I set out to do.
🧢 I’ve worn many hats over the years.
Eagle Scout, Instructor, Master, Counselor, Youth Volunteer coordinator.
The truth is that I’m not a particularly special and unique snowflake. There are plenty of idealistic, slightly awkward, bookish people in the world. In fact, I’ve found that I’m forced to be more noble to keep up with some of my students.
The question I ask is this, “If I am the person who’s had the opportunity to stand here. What should I do with it?”
As a teacher, I know exactly what I want to accomplish. Build students who are highly effective people that improve the communities around them. Even with that high-minded goal and an ever growing list of titles, do you know what I deserve?
A Styrofoam Cup and Some Cowboy Coffee. (Anyone else actually know how to make cowboy coffee?)
What do you want to do with the titles and Luxuries you’ve been given.
As always, If you want to train with me, vist www.dinotokarate.com or send me a PM