12/23/20
Recently came across this excerpt from a speech at a McKinsey internal meeting in 1990 by John W Gardner.
It is counted as one of the most influential business speeches and has a lot to teach us:
“The things you learn in maturity aren’t simple things such as acquiring information and skills.
You learn not to engage in self-destructive behaviour.
You learn not to burn up energy in anxiety.
You discover how to manage your tensions.
You learn that self-pity and resentment are among the most toxic of drugs.
You find that the world loves talent but pays off on character.
You come to understand that most people are neither for you nor against you; they are thinking about themselves.
You learn that no matter how hard you try to please, some people in this world are not going to love you, a lesson that is at first troubling and then really quite relaxing.
Those are things that are hard to learn early in life.
As a rule you have to have picked up some mileage and some dents in your fenders before you understand.”
Amazingly true perspective.
This too shall pass,
As we approach another year, let’s have the maturity to understand and relax, to manage our tensions and be bothered by things which really matter and stay blessed forever.