The Art of Living Well

Last updated on: December 6, 2024 at 2:41 pm by Richard E. Simmons III

The Art of Living Well 2024-12-06T14:41:10-06:00 Richard E. Simmons III

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Union Hill Publishing has just released a new book by Richard Simmons III titled, Practical Wisdom: The Art of Living Well. It is a series of short essays that provides instruction on how to live well and effectively. Today’s blog is an essay taken from the book and it’s titled, “How to be a Student for Life.”

*****

In the February 22, 2014 edition of The New York Times, there was a fascinating article by Thomas Friedman entitled, “How to Get a Job at Google.” It was written from an interview with Laszlo Bock, the senior vice president in charge of hiring at Google, one of the world’s most successful companies.

In the hiring process, Bock says, “GPAs are worthless as a criterion for hiring and test scores are worthless; we found they don’t predict anything.” He then proceeds to share what they are looking for in the prospective new hires that come to interview with Google. One of the primary attributes they desire is humility. They are looking for courageous leaders who, at the appropriate times, will step up and lead, but who will also be willing to relinquish power when needed. In other words, they need to be humble enough to step back and embrace the better ideas of others.

Bock also stressed the importance of having intellectual humility, for if you do not have this, you will be unable to learn even from failure. Too many proud people believe they are a genius when something good happens, but when something bad happens, it is someone else’s fault.

Google seems to understand that truly humble people are what Jim Collins calls, “a study in duality: modest and willful, humble and fearless.” Bock declares that they are looking for people to take firm positions and who will argue like hell. However, when they learn a new fact, they need to let go of their ego and be willing to change their point of view.

Bock recognizes that in an age of innovation, their work is increasingly a group endeavor. In order to work well and effectively in the group, you have to be humble.

This is in line with something I read in Ryan Holiday’s book Ego is the Enemy. The nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz musician Wynton Marsalis offered this advice to a promising young musician on the mindset required to become a great musician:

Humility engenders learning because it beats back the arrogance that puts blinders on. It leaves you open for truths to reveal themselves. You don’t stand in your own way . . . Do you know how you can tell if someone is truly humble? I believe there’s one simple test: because they consistently observe and listen, the humble improve. They don’t assume, ‘I know the way.’

Holiday says that humble people are students for life, seeking to learn from everyone and everything. It might be from people you beat or from those who have beaten you. Wherever you are in your life journey, there are opportunities to learn. This is the perspective humility brings into your life.

Practical Wisdom: The Art of Living Well is available on Amazon, richardesimmons3.com and locally at Seibels and Little Professor in Homewood. Richard E Simmons III is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership and a best-selling author.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 15, 2024

Another Perspective on Work

Next Post

December 13, 2024 Do You Have a Good Name?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Character Development Inspiration Leadership Life Purpose Personal Growth Relationships Seeking God Spiritual Truth The Bible True Masculinity Uncategorized Wisdom

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group is known for its historic peace churches and pacifism?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Quakers Pentecostals Methodists Presbyterians