Musings from the CU Suite

Written by Anthony Demangone

I will admit to you that I'm not one who can quote Scripture. But some recent research led me to Proverbs 16:18.

Someone sent me an email with the heading: Hubris comes before the fall.

I did what any intelligent America would do...I Googled the phrase.

It seems to flow from that Biblical verse.  Here it is:

Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

There is no way I'd try to speak to you about religion. This is simply not the forum for that, nor my role. But that phrase does speak to me on many levels. And it should speak to businesses as well.

Here's an advertisement from the White Star Line, about a ship you may recognize. The Titanic.

Unsinkable, eh?

The list of hubris' victims is long. (Each link below takes you to a story about how a giant became too prideful, and refused to acknowledge a threat.)

Blockbuster. Blackberry. Circuit City. AOL.

This issue is thorny, though. We need to be confident in our strategies. Our communication.

But like many things, too much of a good thing can be bad.

So how do we protect against hubris? I'm no expert, but these thoughts come to mind.

• Be humble. Most likely, any success you have has been a team effort. Your town. Your members. Your colleagues. Remember that. Appreciate their contribution and honor it. Never cheapen it by taking it for granted.
• Respect your competitors. Sure, you compete against them. And they return the favor. But you disregard them to your peril. You underestimate them to your demise. 

When you are doing well, it can be tempting to get cocky.

We're better than those guys on that coast. Across the town. Across the river.

History, however, counsels you against such boasts. 

And counsels to keep your eyes peeled for icebergs.