I recently read part of a book that had a quote in place for each chapter, and one of the quotes said something to the effect of “success breeds arrogance, and arrogance breeds failure”. Arrogance is a quality that can seem to motivate you, but it directs you towards methods of activity that don’t match your peak of ability. You can end up throwing away hours because you feel that you are entitled to a certain result. This is a handicap, and squashing arrogance is quite easy to do.
Removing arrogance is as easy as comparing yourself with someone that is more accomplished than you in a certain category. Any time that you start to feel like you are in a high position, or that you can get away with doing less, is the rare time that I would recommend comparing yourself with others. I normally would suggest not comparing yourself with others, but when you are beginning to feel arrogant, this is an instant solution.
When you compare yourself with someone that has accomplished more than you in a category, field, or position that you are becoming arrogant or cocky in, the arrogance disintegrates, and this can keep you on a steady path. This comparison is only to be used in this type of occasion, as your arrogance/cockiness is a sign that you need a realignment in your view of your level of importance. It is important to do this quickly, so that your mind doesn’t get into a state of entitlement.
Level of cockiness is the difference between a person that continues to grow, and a person that is soon to throw away what he has acquired. Curb this cockiness when you see it, and you won’t have to deal the lack of pro-active effort it results in.
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February 18, 2009 at 11:02 pm
That’s a good point. Some people are so arrogant about their small accomplishments. It’s like they couldn’t wait to get cocky about something. Why not take all of that energy that you’re spending being arrogant, and focus it on tightening your game even more?
Trey: You have pointed it out in a clear way. It doesn’t make sense to waste that energetic optimism on a lack of effort when it can go back towards continued accomplishment. Channeling arrogance into nourishment used for “tightening your game” sounds like the way to go.
Go Trey! Great way to put it! I agree. It’s just like negative people. If they would use that negativity in a positive way, how much better would their lives be?
I actually overheard a situation tonight where someone was so arrogant, I think I may have thrown up a little. The daughter of a restaurant owner was overheard making a comment about an employee. The daughter stated that she didn’t like the employee and the employee “worked for her.” It might have been one of those situations where you have to know the people or have heard the conversation yourself, but all the daughter of the restaurant owner did was make other employees upset and angry with her. Being arrogant only makes for a negative situation.
I hope everyone reads your post and uses your method!
Great post. I can’t wait to read more.
Tina: Trey sure hit the point. Your example contains a person that felt that they could get away with a comment of that type, which would place her in the ‘arrogant’ category. The actual boss of those employees would be her father, and so they don’t work for her, which she already knew, but she tried to overstep her boundary. Comments like the one she made are not small, as it is very likely that her personality-type will persist.
Thanks for that and more shall arrive.