According to my Webster’s Dictionary, pride is described as (amongst others) 1. A feeling of gratification arising from association with something good or laudable. 2. A high or inordinate opinion of one’s own importance or superiority.
As we can see, there is a good place for pride. I want to write a bit more about the second definition ‘to have a high opinion of yourself’ which I can observe often to become quite damaging. Some examples:
- I have an argument with another person. But because I am right and the other person didn’t talk nicely to me I am too proud to talk to them to make up and go on with life.
- I don’t ask for help. Too proud.
- I am too proud to do certain things, like in sales asking for orders. We Germans are in many cases too proud to serve people we rather operate a machine. I guess in Singapore it would be ‘Not my job. The maid must do it’.
- Also, I found people often forget remembering others. Therefore, don’t be too proud to make yourself visible, e.g. networking, find a way to stay in touch with people who are important to your success, tell them of the things you can do (projects, higher ranking jobs, buy your products) if they give you an opportunity.
I find very often we are well advised ‘to leave our pride at home’ and go out there and get what we want. If I have to swallow my pride sometimes, so what.
As we can see, there is a good place for pride. I want to write a bit more about the second definition ‘to have a high opinion of yourself’ which I can observe often to become quite damaging. Some examples:
- I have an argument with another person. But because I am right and the other person didn’t talk nicely to me I am too proud to talk to them to make up and go on with life.
- I don’t ask for help. Too proud.
- I am too proud to do certain things, like in sales asking for orders. We Germans are in many cases too proud to serve people we rather operate a machine. I guess in Singapore it would be ‘Not my job. The maid must do it’.
- Also, I found people often forget remembering others. Therefore, don’t be too proud to make yourself visible, e.g. networking, find a way to stay in touch with people who are important to your success, tell them of the things you can do (projects, higher ranking jobs, buy your products) if they give you an opportunity.
I find very often we are well advised ‘to leave our pride at home’ and go out there and get what we want. If I have to swallow my pride sometimes, so what.
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