Smug clarity

“Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom...is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.” -- Anthony Bourdain

Glance around the business world and you tend to see the opposite: people posturing and pushing their answers and secrets to success and self-importance.

Nothing is more abhorrent than when someone declares, "I can teach you to..." or "I will..." or "I'm sharing my secrets..."

Notice the emphasis?

*I* will. Not YOU can. Not YOU will. Not even WE.

*I* will.

Because what great teacher from your childhood didn't make it entirely about THEMSELVES?

I'm sure some of these people are well-intentioned and their positioning is just a bit too chest-beaty for my taste. But for my money, the best damn teachers and storytellers and folks to follow never, ever make it about them. It's about their work, their investigation of what's possible. They ask questions and investigate ... rather than sit up on a pedestal and send down wisdom from on high.

Avoid those with smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom is realizing how small we each are, and unwise, and how far we each have yet to go...