Pride and the Fall: Lessons from Real-World Examples and Knitting Hubris
Have you ever witnessed a dramatic example of the saying, “Pride goes before a fall”? Throughout my life, Irsquo;ve seen this proverb play out numerous times, each lesson more poignant than the last.
Second Generation Pride and Company Collapse
In my experience, the most striking example of this is often seen in the second generation. Many parents work tirelessly to build successful companies, yet fail to properly mentor their children. Tragically, the children, often believing they are better than the people they work with, quickly fall from grace. This has played out multiple times in my career, always ending in a dramatic crash.
Case Study: The Riverdance Lead Singer
To illustrate this, take the case of the lead singer of a famous group, Riverdance. This individual thrived on the stage and fed off the adoration of the audience, much like a vampire feeds on blood. Once he got a bigger stage as a solo artist, he deliberately severed every connection to his previous troupe, saying vile, hurtful things about his colleagues. Unfortunately, a few weeks before his big debut, he fell and injured his knee, what would be a career-ending injury.
The Dangers of a Society That Rewards Pride Willfully Ignored
Itrsquo;s worrisome when society destroys the lives of those who take pride in their legitimate achievements. If society’s culture turns life into a relentless competition for success, it is also poised to eliminate anyone who doesnrsquo;t play the game. Pride and confidence, however, can help us recover and even turn the tables on those who have caused us pain.
Humility and Recovery
The key is to recognize and manage your pride. Humility must step in when pride begins to rise. This lesson extends beyond the professional realm and can be observed in everyday activities like knitting.
Knitting Hubris and the Consequences
Knitting is a craft that can quickly reveal onersquo;s level of experience. For example, one February morning, I was setting up a snack table during a community-ed basketball game, contributing to the school fundraiser as I usually did with knitting scarves. While a fellow parent and I admired each otherrsquo;s work, mine was more expert, while hers had clear mistakes. Later, I failed to notice that I had accidentally dropped stitches at the end of my scarf. This had to be corrected, lessoning my self-satisfaction.
Lessons Learned
Beware of hubris, whether in knitting or in professional life. Overconfidence often leads to mistakes. The harshest lessons can come from the smallest details, as the saying goes, “He who thinks he knows it all, knows nothing.”
No matter how much pride we may feel, itrsquo;s important to recognize our mistakes and correct them. Doing so not only helps us avoid the mistakes but also fosters humility, which can be instrumental in navigating lifersquo;s challenges.
In the end, the fall is inevitable, but the key is to not fall too far and to bounce back stronger. So, embrace the lessons of humility and pride, and remember that sometimes, the lessons we learn can come from the most unexpected places, like a knitting mistake or a parentrsquo;s hubris.