Stories

One of the funnier moments of my career happened when I was the head of a school in New York City. I was new to my job and standing outside of school greeting students when a three-year-old approached and asked if I was the doorman. I laughed about that encounter for days and thought about it often, as it was a wonderful lesson in how to stay humble.

At the same time, I was getting to know the actual doormen who worked at my apartment building. To a person, they were hardworking, friendly, and down-to-earth. I know they had to deal with lots of big egos and demanding people in their jobs, but they always maintained a composure and professionalism that was inspiring. One doorman named William worked two jobs - sixteen hours a day, two different buildings, and he often worked extra days. He took great pride in himself and his work, and he was living the American dream. He told me with delight about the apartment he had recently purchased, how he had remodeled it, and how happy he was to provide for his family in this manner.

William was a person of enormous character and integrity. He was also very humble. I would sometimes see him interact with a resident of the apartment building, someone who was wealthy and entitled and displayed no humility. The contrast between the two was startling. William was the better man, in large part because he was secure in who he was and confident in his humility.

I came into contact with many successful and powerful people in New York. Some had the big egos and brash personalities you might expect from people in their positions. But many were truly and authentically humble, and I was once again reminded that humility is not in any way a weakness; it is, in fact, a strength and usually indicative of a person who has a firm grasp of reality and keen understanding of human nature. 

And in our age of the exalted self, which can often devolve into rampant narcissism, humility is even more important. When I think of the complexities of the world our children will inherit and the diversity of people they will encounter and interact with, a healthy sense of humility will serve them well and help them navigate their interior and exterior worlds in a realistic and productive manner.