Posted by: Sean Estey at December 11, 2009 06:32 PM

Sean,

Nothing that immediately comes to mind–more observations over the last 15 years. Certainly humility is regular theme in the Meditations. Humility is not about bringing yourself down, necessarily. From the Stoic sense, I see it as an ability to correctly see one’s place in things, which helps lead to a more dispassionate ability to observe realize. See things as they are, not as we wish them to be. See yourself as you are, not as you wish or delude yourself to be.

On another thought regarding the theme of Ryan’s critique and ending meme–why should we leave well enough alone. If we see BS, hubris, wrong thinking or acting, then why not call it what it is? Too many folks are just given a pass, because people are too complacent or too polite to speak out. Danger certainly lurks in calling things or people out to boost your own status or esteem–haven’t seen that in the writing here in general or in this post. We cannot get better if all those who see wrong thought/action stay silent and only concentrate on our own quest.

Don’t you think that offering such a definition qualifies as waving the all-clear to those behind you? Don’t you think that much of what you write is the same?

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, although you seem to. It’s called leading. If you feel those leaders are on a misguided quest, so what? Just concentrate on your quest, and if you’re right in your judgment you’ll be able to look back and either laugh at them or offer to help (or both).

Since it’s on the subject, do you have an assistant still? What responsibilities did/do you delegate?

Trunk is a malevolent transferrer of blame. I give her some credit for attempting to be honest about things in her recent posts, but her “honest” is a truly scary litany of “it’s not my fault, or when it is, it’s the Asperger’s or people needing to be patient with me”.

Freaked me out enough. I’m done. All I can learn from that anti-example, I’ve learned.

Sometimes it works given the circumstances – like you need help but not full-time 40 hr a week week help. Sometimes it looks like petty, indulgent white privilege wrapped in some bullshit Steve Pavlina speak.

Tim has proven he is successful, the 20-something probably has more time than he knows what to do with.

Anyway, do you consider virtual assistants as exploiting people? Even when someone like Tim uses them?

I recognize that you value hard work and responsibility because it allows us to learn more and grow as people. I agree with that. My concern is that you seem to be trying to turn that into a moral argument; like someone who delegates non-crucial tasks like scheduling appointments is somehow ethically a worse person than someone who does it all himself.

This isn’t an argument man.