WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

March 9, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 10

LIFE’S GREATEST LESSON

“Pride. Vanity. Why do we do the things we do?” For those who have read Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesdays with Morrie, you no doubt recall that quote and many others. On the cover of Mitch’s book are the words, “life’s greatest lesson.” As with many things, those reading the book may have different perspectives on life’s greatest lesson, but sometimes different perspectives create the most meaningful moments.

Meaningful moments were abundant this week. In response to a difficult situation, the feedback ranged from a simple heart emoji to “I love you” to beautiful flowers accompanied by dog treats. Too exhausted to answer the door when the delivery arrived, it sat outside for a bit as I watched it from my chair, the flowers radiating against the melting snow. Upon retrieving the flowers, I discovered the dog treats. The wonderful woman who sent them knew I had a dog only because Petra “Zoombombed” a meeting a couple of weeks prior. In the past, pride would have kept me from having Petra with me during a work meeting, but that day – like many lately – pride was the last thing on my mind.

Dr. John Maxwell wrote the essay on Leadership Wired in 2007, Pride – A Leader’s Greatest Problem. In it, he discussed “good pride” and “bad pride”, noting that “’Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance…. When you are full of pride on the inside, it makes you stiff, stubborn, and creates strife with others.” This is not to suggest that you should allow animals and others to Zoombomb work meetings. Rather, considering why we do what we do and how we might do it differently can result in many meaningful moments. For another context, consider this: If you or someone else is struggling and could have 24 hours to do anything, would it be “to have a lovely breakfast of sweet rolls and tea, go for a swim, then have friends over for a nice lunch…” as Morrie said in Mitch’s book, or would it be something else?

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Think about spending 24 hours with a loved one without the reality of life that often includes laundry, bills, work, and/or studies in a meaningful way, and write down how you would spend those hours. If you or a child or colleague is more likely to fall victim to “bad pride” instead of “good pride,” consider ways to change course. For additional inspiration, consider these words from Morrie: “You can’t get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened.”

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.