#009 – Avoid the Faults of Your Nation
Water shares the good or bad qualities of the strata through which it flows, and man those of the climate in which he is born. Some owe more than others to their native land, because there is a more favourable sky in the zenith. There is not a nation even among the most civilised that has not some fault peculiar to itself which other nations blame by way of boast or as a warning. ‘Tis a triumph of cleverness to correct in oneself such national failings, or even to hide them: you get great credit for being unique among your fellows, and as it is less expected of you it is esteemed the more. There are also family failings as well as faults of position, of office or of age. If these all meet in one person and are not carefully guarded against, they make an intolerable monster..
The very first line is so clutch! Water itself does not have good or bad qualities. It takes the qualities from that which contains it. The same can be said in the coaching world. Much of how we work, and how we are PERCEIVED is dependent on the organization the coach is working with. You can be the greatest coach in the world, but if you are working in a toxic organization, you will most likely be labeled as toxic. Do not fall into the trap that you will be able to change everyone and the whole organization. It is better to find a group that fits your style and philosophy better.
This blog series is based on the book “The Art of Worldly Wisdom” by Balthasar Gracián. This book was written for advice on how to achieve personal and professional success. The goal of this blog series is to visit the points of wisdom and put them in the spotlight of the coaching and education lens.
