[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] Ralph Waldo Emerson once said every
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said every
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said every great man is willing to be little now I
great man is willing to be little now I
great man is willing to be little now I don’t have any special qualifications to
don’t have any special qualifications to
don’t have any special qualifications to stand up here today and talk to you
stand up here today and talk to you
stand up here today and talk to you about humility in fact maybe it’s that I
about humility in fact maybe it’s that I
about humility in fact maybe it’s that I have so much work to do in the area that
have so much work to do in the area that
have so much work to do in the area that gives me a temporary license if you will
gives me a temporary license if you will
gives me a temporary license if you will I assure you I’m a working progress like
I assure you I’m a working progress like
I assure you I’m a working progress like many of you ladies and gentlemen I would
many of you ladies and gentlemen I would
many of you ladies and gentlemen I would like to share with you five words and
like to share with you five words and
like to share with you five words and phrases you don’t need to write them
phrases you don’t need to write them
phrases you don’t need to write them down that I believe if used and applied
down that I believe if used and applied
down that I believe if used and applied can help us in our communications and
can help us in our communications and
can help us in our communications and interactions with others those five
interactions with others those five
interactions with others those five words and phrases are please thank you
words and phrases are please thank you
words and phrases are please thank you I’m sorry I don’t know and I was wrong
I’m sorry I don’t know and I was wrong
I’m sorry I don’t know and I was wrong now the first two are easy most of us
now the first two are easy most of us
now the first two are easy most of us learn the first two before we even learn
learn the first two before we even learn
learn the first two before we even learn our own name I recall when my children
our own name I recall when my children
our own name I recall when my children was small then pulling up on the coffee
was small then pulling up on the coffee
was small then pulling up on the coffee table learning to walk staggering around
table learning to walk staggering around
table learning to walk staggering around like Frankenstein typically they would
like Frankenstein typically they would
like Frankenstein typically they would grab something from the table and we
grab something from the table and we
grab something from the table and we would hold our hands out and say honey
would hold our hands out and say honey
would hold our hands out and say honey can I please have that and sometimes
can I please have that and sometimes
can I please have that and sometimes they would give it to you sometimes not
they would give it to you sometimes not
they would give it to you sometimes not but if they did we would say thank you
but if they did we would say thank you
but if they did we would say thank you and then we would pass the object back
and then we would pass the object back
and then we would pass the object back and forth a couple times exchanging
and forth a couple times exchanging
and forth a couple times exchanging please and thank yous I also remember
please and thank yous I also remember
please and thank yous I also remember taking cookies from my aunt Virginia’s
taking cookies from my aunt Virginia’s
taking cookies from my aunt Virginia’s cookie jar and if I forgot to say thank
cookie jar and if I forgot to say thank
cookie jar and if I forgot to say thank you what happened you got smacked upside
you what happened you got smacked upside
you what happened you got smacked upside the head and said say thank you what do
the head and said say thank you what do
the head and said say thank you what do you say so early on we lay this
you say so early on we lay this
you say so early on we lay this foundation for humility that we build
foundation for humility that we build
foundation for humility that we build upon for the rest of our lives or so it
upon for the rest of our lives or so it
upon for the rest of our lives or so it seems but if the first two are easy that
seems but if the first two are easy that
seems but if the first two are easy that implies that the other three are more
implies that the other three are more
implies that the other three are more difficult please thank you I’m sorry I
difficult please thank you I’m sorry I
difficult please thank you I’m sorry I don’t know I was wrong let me ask you a
don’t know I was wrong let me ask you a
don’t know I was wrong let me ask you a question and maybe you’ll get a raised
question and maybe you’ll get a raised
question and maybe you’ll get a raised eyebrow or elbow do you owe someone an
eyebrow or elbow do you owe someone an
eyebrow or elbow do you owe someone an apology or maybe the question is better
apology or maybe the question is better
apology or maybe the question is better asked who do you owe an apology that
asked who do you owe an apology that
asked who do you owe an apology that hasn’t received it yet you may have
hasn’t received it yet you may have
hasn’t received it yet you may have found yourself in a situation like I
found yourself in a situation like I
found yourself in a situation like I found myself in some time ago I was in a
found myself in some time ago I was in a
found myself in some time ago I was in a meeting and I was very excited
meeting and I was very excited
meeting and I was very excited a new project that the boss had told us
a new project that the boss had told us
a new project that the boss had told us about so I got to share it with the team
about so I got to share it with the team
about so I got to share it with the team I already had some ideas about how we
I already had some ideas about how we
I already had some ideas about how we would execute the project and as I
would execute the project and as I
would execute the project and as I shared it with the team they gave me
shared it with the team they gave me
shared it with the team they gave me some of their ideas there were a little
some of their ideas there were a little
some of their ideas there were a little different than mine and as we went
different than mine and as we went
different than mine and as we went around the room they got more excited
around the room they got more excited
around the room they got more excited about the ways that they wanted the
about the ways that they wanted the
about the ways that they wanted the project to go that was different than
project to go that was different than
project to go that was different than what I have thought and at one point I
what I have thought and at one point I
what I have thought and at one point I got upset and I snapped at one of my
got upset and I snapped at one of my
got upset and I snapped at one of my teammates I knew I was wrong when it
teammates I knew I was wrong when it
teammates I knew I was wrong when it happened but it happened now two things
happened but it happened now two things
happened but it happened now two things happen in a meeting and you’ve you’ve
happen in a meeting and you’ve you’ve
happen in a meeting and you’ve you’ve seen this before when something like
seen this before when something like
seen this before when something like that occurs number one the meeting
that occurs number one the meeting
that occurs number one the meeting doesn’t go much longer and number two we
doesn’t go much longer and number two we
doesn’t go much longer and number two we don’t get anything done
don’t get anything done
don’t get anything done both of those things happen in that case
both of those things happen in that case
both of those things happen in that case so I let the rest of the day go yes I
so I let the rest of the day go yes I
so I let the rest of the day go yes I should apologize immediately but I
should apologize immediately but I
should apologize immediately but I didn’t I let the rest of the day go and
didn’t I let the rest of the day go and
didn’t I let the rest of the day go and I went home and reflected on it that
I went home and reflected on it that
I went home and reflected on it that evening I came back to work the next
evening I came back to work the next
evening I came back to work the next morning and I’m usually the first in the
morning and I’m usually the first in the
morning and I’m usually the first in the office and when my colleague came in I
office and when my colleague came in I
office and when my colleague came in I greeted them immediately and I said I’m
greeted them immediately and I said I’m
greeted them immediately and I said I’m so sorry for the way I acted yesterday
so sorry for the way I acted yesterday
so sorry for the way I acted yesterday it was childish immature and
it was childish immature and
it was childish immature and unprofessional I value you as a human
unprofessional I value you as a human
unprofessional I value you as a human being and as a team member as a person I
being and as a team member as a person I
being and as a team member as a person I am sorry for the way I acted not only
am sorry for the way I acted not only
am sorry for the way I acted not only that as the rest of the team gathered we
that as the rest of the team gathered we
that as the rest of the team gathered we had a huddle a small short meeting where
had a huddle a small short meeting where
had a huddle a small short meeting where I apologize to the rest of the team the
I apologize to the rest of the team the
I apologize to the rest of the team the guys I’m really sorry I acted like a ass
guys I’m really sorry I acted like a ass
guys I’m really sorry I acted like a ass yesterday and I apologize for that I
yesterday and I apologize for that I
yesterday and I apologize for that I value you all and that’s not the
value you all and that’s not the
value you all and that’s not the environment that we’re trying to build
environment that we’re trying to build
environment that we’re trying to build here now that’s not a story to tell you
here now that’s not a story to tell you
here now that’s not a story to tell you that I can say I’m sorry the larger
that I can say I’m sorry the larger
that I can say I’m sorry the larger point is much much bigger and it’s this
point is much much bigger and it’s this
point is much much bigger and it’s this as human beings we have this tremendous
as human beings we have this tremendous
as human beings we have this tremendous capacity for forgiveness and all you
capacity for forgiveness and all you
capacity for forgiveness and all you have to do to unlock it is to say I’m
have to do to unlock it is to say I’m
have to do to unlock it is to say I’m sorry we’ve seen in fact instances where
sorry we’ve seen in fact instances where
sorry we’ve seen in fact instances where a family can forgive the murderer that
a family can forgive the murderer that
a family can forgive the murderer that that took a loved one from them just by
that took a loved one from them just by
that took a loved one from them just by simply asking for forgiveness that’s
simply asking for forgiveness that’s
simply asking for forgiveness that’s powerful please thank you I’m sorry I
powerful please thank you I’m sorry I
powerful please thank you I’m sorry I don’t know I was wrong now you may think
don’t know I was wrong now you may think
don’t know I was wrong now you may think that you know everything but we all know
that you know everything but we all know
that you know everything but we all know that we don’t and so we have to leave
that we don’t and so we have to leave
that we don’t and so we have to leave some room for those other ideas
some room for those other ideas
some room for those other ideas that can come in and help us shape what
that can come in and help us shape what
that can come in and help us shape what we are and how we believe but many times
we are and how we believe but many times
we are and how we believe but many times it seems we come to conversations with a
it seems we come to conversations with a
it seems we come to conversations with a preconceived notion that we already know
preconceived notion that we already know
preconceived notion that we already know the answer and when we do that we don’t
the answer and when we do that we don’t
the answer and when we do that we don’t give ourselves an opportunity to be
give ourselves an opportunity to be
give ourselves an opportunity to be exposed to the ideas of others now we
exposed to the ideas of others now we
exposed to the ideas of others now we just came through a tumultuous election
just came through a tumultuous election
just came through a tumultuous election and it seems that in the past we were
and it seems that in the past we were
and it seems that in the past we were able to do two things that we haven’t
able to do two things that we haven’t
able to do two things that we haven’t been able to do the last 10 20 years
been able to do the last 10 20 years
been able to do the last 10 20 years number one is we haven’t been able to or
number one is we haven’t been able to or
number one is we haven’t been able to or it seems we haven’t been able to rally
it seems we haven’t been able to rally
it seems we haven’t been able to rally behind our leaders I don’t know if
behind our leaders I don’t know if
behind our leaders I don’t know if you’ve ever run anything like a bake
you’ve ever run anything like a bake
you’ve ever run anything like a bake sale or or a homeowners association or
sale or or a homeowners association or
sale or or a homeowners association or been involved with anything where you
been involved with anything where you
been involved with anything where you need the support of other people those
need the support of other people those
need the support of other people those things are difficult if you don’t have
things are difficult if you don’t have
things are difficult if you don’t have the support of your constituency so I
the support of your constituency so I
the support of your constituency so I would encourage you as much as you can
would encourage you as much as you can
would encourage you as much as you can get behind your leaders the second one
get behind your leaders the second one
get behind your leaders the second one though I think is more important I want
though I think is more important I want
though I think is more important I want us to get back to a point where we can
us to get back to a point where we can
us to get back to a point where we can have meaningful dialogue with one
have meaningful dialogue with one
have meaningful dialogue with one another not debate not dueling
another not debate not dueling
another not debate not dueling monologues but a dialogue a conversation
monologues but a dialogue a conversation
monologues but a dialogue a conversation when there where there is genuine
when there where there is genuine
when there where there is genuine interests on the part of everyone
interests on the part of everyone
interests on the part of everyone involved to understand the position of
involved to understand the position of
involved to understand the position of the other that’s how we come to
the other that’s how we come to
the other that’s how we come to compromise I think Stephen Covey said it
compromise I think Stephen Covey said it
compromise I think Stephen Covey said it best when he said seek first to
best when he said seek first to
best when he said seek first to understand and it’s funny as we think
understand and it’s funny as we think
understand and it’s funny as we think about the season we’ve just come through
about the season we’ve just come through
about the season we’ve just come through what do we call someone who changes
what do we call someone who changes
what do we call someone who changes their mind
their mind
their mind maybe when confronted with better
maybe when confronted with better
maybe when confronted with better information and more facts you know what
information and more facts you know what
information and more facts you know what we call him a flip flopper really please
we call him a flip flopper really please
we call him a flip flopper really please thank you I’m sorry I don’t know I was
thank you I’m sorry I don’t know I was
thank you I’m sorry I don’t know I was wrong now I thought I was wrong once but
wrong now I thought I was wrong once but
wrong now I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken
I was mistaken
I was mistaken I think you’ve heard that before and if
I think you’ve heard that before and if
I think you’ve heard that before and if silly as it seems I think some of us
silly as it seems I think some of us
silly as it seems I think some of us believe that you know as I was standing
believe that you know as I was standing
believe that you know as I was standing in the mirror this morning combing my
in the mirror this morning combing my
in the mirror this morning combing my hair
okay brushing my teeth I realized that
okay brushing my teeth I realized that our errors give us some of the greatest
our errors give us some of the greatest
our errors give us some of the greatest opportunities for learning but we need
opportunities for learning but we need
opportunities for learning but we need to acknowledge them not hide behind them
to acknowledge them not hide behind them
to acknowledge them not hide behind them and certainly not scapegoat others it’s
and certainly not scapegoat others it’s
and certainly not scapegoat others it’s funny that it seems we’re the last one
funny that it seems we’re the last one
funny that it seems we’re the last one to know that we’re wrong you go in and
to know that we’re wrong you go in and
to know that we’re wrong you go in and you you tell your team or your family I
you you tell your team or your family I
you you tell your team or your family I was wrong and they go yeah yeah well
was wrong and they go yeah yeah well
was wrong and they go yeah yeah well yeah we knew that please thank you I’m
yeah we knew that please thank you I’m
yeah we knew that please thank you I’m sorry I don’t know I was wrong now it’s
sorry I don’t know I was wrong now it’s
sorry I don’t know I was wrong now it’s really not about trying to be more
really not about trying to be more
really not about trying to be more humble it’s just about trying to be a
humble it’s just about trying to be a
humble it’s just about trying to be a better father mother brother sister
better father mother brother sister
better father mother brother sister spouse friend colleague human being and
spouse friend colleague human being and
spouse friend colleague human being and at the end of the day when we leave here
at the end of the day when we leave here
at the end of the day when we leave here I’m not really interested in what you
I’m not really interested in what you
I’m not really interested in what you learned but what will you do well you
learned but what will you do well you
learned but what will you do well you issue that apology to someone who
issue that apology to someone who
issue that apology to someone who deserves it will you be open to the
deserves it will you be open to the
deserves it will you be open to the ideas of others will you admit when
ideas of others will you admit when
ideas of others will you admit when you’re wrong and in the end the answers
you’re wrong and in the end the answers
you’re wrong and in the end the answers to these questions are important because
to these questions are important because
to these questions are important because and we understand that it’s not about
and we understand that it’s not about
and we understand that it’s not about thinking less of ourselves it’s about
thinking less of ourselves it’s about
thinking less of ourselves it’s about thinking more of others thank you
thinking more of others thank you
thinking more of others thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment