#014 – The Thing Itself
The Thing Itself and the Way it is done. “Substance” is not enough: “accident” is also required, as the scholastics say. A bad manner spoils everything, even reason and justice; a good one supplies everything, gilds a No, sweetens truth, and adds a touch of beauty to old age itself. The how plays a large part in affairs, a good manner steals into the affections. Fine behaviour is a joy in life, and a pleasant expression helps out of a difficulty in a remarkable way.
It is not always what we accomplish, but how we get there. Think about the “steroid era” in baseball. Many records were broken, but most people (at least according to a lot of polls) do not find the new records legitimate. Lance Armstrong was stripped of all his yellow jerseys, due to “how” he won them. Playing humble and with grace will do more for a team’s legacy than winning with shortcuts. The same can be said for coaching. Winning a handful of championships will not create a legacy if done poorly or with shortcuts. Coaching a season that is challenging can still be rewarding if you are doing it correctly and helping your players grow.
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.
