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The line between pride and ego-tism is excessive love for oneself, but self-respect is a brand of pride that spurs a man on to do his best. For example, in writing this book I hope to pass on some helpful ideas. I want them to be practical and interesting and I do my best to present them that way.
I take pride that everything I write is absolutely true. If I cite an example, it really happened. If I express an idea, I really believe it. I have little patience with books that seem to be "manufactured" in order to attract attention and make sales. So in this instance my "pride" is in the integrity of what I am writing.
A PROUD SALESMAN
Harry Watson is an independent salesman and one of the most popular and successful men in his city. He has a fine home, lovely family, good income, and controls his own
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business. He is a leader in community and church affairs, belongs to the best clubs, and is cordially received wherever he goes.
In spite of his success he's not arrogant, nor conceited. In fact, he is modest to the point of leaning backward to avoid the appearance of egotism.
One day I asked him, "Harry, what is your philosophy of your personal conduct?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"In your daily work, I notice that you seem to follow a pattern of action and attitudes that marks you as quite different from the average salesman. Is this a planned course on your part, or is it just natural to you?"
He replied, "Well, I guess I have a sort of complex. I don't want you to misunderstand, but I am proud of myself. I want to look the part of a successful and decent man, and make enough money to have the good things of life for my family and me. Whenever I'm tempted to get lazy my conscience gets busy and won't let me.
"Some people may think I'm 'stuck-up,' but I'm not. Actually, it's the reverse. I recognize that if it weren't for my self-respect I wouldn't amount to anything."
PRIDE IN ACHIEVEMENT
A man who has no pride in what he does will never make much of a salesman or anything else. A young beginner in a sales organization came to his sales manager and said, "I have a lot of nice business that will materialize next month."
His manager asked, "Why next month? Why not now?"
The young fellow replied, "Well, I have some good prospects who don't have the money to spare just now. They have promised they'd buy next month."
At this, the sales manager really let him have it! He said, "Listen, you're no salesman. Every prospect puts off weaklings by saying he'll buy later. Some real salesman will come
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