A great man reaches highest whenhe reaches down to help another man up.

I grew up on the Main Line in Philadelphia. Don’t say “Oh!” like most do. I wasn’t a “Main Liner”… Blue blood. I can remember this refined attractive elderly lady… the fifth time I met her. Went something like this. My Mom, “Bobby, you know Mrs. Barclay.” Me, “Of course Mrs. Barclay. How are you?” Mrs Barclay, nose in the air, “No I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.” What was I the four other times, a cheese sandwich?

Welcome to the Main Line of Philadelphia. Humble… not.You have your own Mrs Barclays in your life. The person who asks you where you went to school, what work was. Based on your answer… they would slot you. You were either in their circle… or not. Or the guy who’s talking to you at cocktails looking over your shoulder for someone else. His next victim to bore to death. Or the person who walks by you, who you know! Looks thru you like a pane of glass. No eye contact. Despite your attempts. Moving on to someone more important.

Lastly the person you tell you’re going to… say, Viet Nam (incredible BTW). Before you utter another word. “Oh, you’re going to love it. Go to… don’t forget to.” I could be going to Pluto the response would be the same.Autobiographical. All about them. Humility… no.

Then there was my first Million Dollar Round Table meeting in Seattle. The annual elite gathering of successful life insurance professionals. I was 21. Had qualified to be there! So excited! Meeting so many great people. I was with my boss, Stan. Standing casually at a bar. “Bob, you want to meet Ray Triplett?” Huh! He just named the Babe Ruth of the industry. A legend! “Sure” I choked… freekin out! Ray Triplett? As I straightened my tie Stan calls over to Ray across the bar. Here comes this guy… 6’4… light brown plaid suit, tanned, handsome gray, blondish hair, smiling… total pro. Gliding toward me like a gull landing on a beach. Ray must have seen the fear in my eyes. Because here’s what he did. Amazing. Sensing I was nervous to meet this icon, big guy. As he approached he gracefully bent his kness and stooped down below my eye level. Bowed his head. And slowly reached up for my outstretched hand.Silently saying, “I’m no better than you, young man. It is a privilege to meet you.” Wow! Here fifty years later. I never forgot this indelible lesson on humility.Contrasting experiences. With the Mrs Barclays in my life I never would have been as impressed by Mr Triplett’s gesture.

Humility… modest opinion or estimate of one’s status, importance.

A irreplaceable quality. Possessed by great leaders. Truly successful people. Hopefully you too.