“ Your value is the sum of your humility, your integrity, and your ability to keep learning.”

This is the truth. I like this quote so much I may just post it over my desk. Don’t be a “know-it-all” that is impossible in today’s world. Instead be a “learn-it-all” and understand that you are replaceable.

My grandpa used to say, “stick your hand in a bucket of water. Now, pull it out. That’s how long it will take the world to resume it’s normal course without you. So, make a splash young man…”

I resonated with this article on many levels; not the least of which was my own personal journey of self-identification from “musician” to “IT guy.” I held on to that “musician” self-identifier for a very long time, longer than I should have. Now, I’m an IT guy that gets paid to sing occasionally. I never sing for fun, it hurts too bad.

I can only imagine how this guy must have felt listening to his songs make those bands millions. They called him an “insufferable a**hole” but the more likely truth is that they made him that way out of self-preservation.

The key to happiness and success is to never stop bringing value. That means never stop learning, never stop being humble, never stop doing the right things for the right reasons and above all never stop re-inventing yourself. Those self-identifying labels can hold you down much longer than they should and cause a lot of pain along the way.

Instead of “I am a …” try “I have been a …” or “I am becoming a …” It belies your personal evolution and hurts a lot less than, “I used to be a …” which can be fairly tough to handle.