In a fast-paced industry like ours, where technology evolves faster than we can master it, one trait is often overlooked but proves essential for us to achieve our full potential—humility.
Humility, in its truest sense, is more than just modesty. To be humble means recognizing that we are not perfect. It’s being true to ourselves, setting aside the pretense that we are all-knowing. It’s us recognizing that we are not always correct, and sometimes, we do not always have the answer. Humility is what leads us to say “I am sorry, I was wrong,” “I do not know, but I’ll find out,” or “I could have done better.“
Humility extends to our interaction with others. We understand that the same limitations are true for the people around us. Thus, from our core value “Be Humble,” we listen, help, and give others our support as they do for us.
This virtue of humility is a key ingredient for success. Our awareness of our imperfect nature, coupled with the ability to admit it and be accountable for it is what paves for the ascension of our being. It’s the foundation upon which true growth is built. And so being humble is required before Kaizen can be achieved.
Take it from Sir JP (Jordan Peterson) who reminds us below that Improvement can only begin when we admit that there is room to grow:
The BlessUp media is a powerful reminder for us on any journey, there will be times when we face tasks that stretch our abilities or we receive feedback that highlights areas where we fell short. It’s common to feel defensive or shift blame when faced with mistakes, but when met with humility instead of ego, these moments become opportunities for growth. Taking responsibility and admitting, “I could have done better,” or “I missed the mark, but I’ll improve,” builds character.
The key here is how we view these moments. Rather than seeing feedback or mistakes as threats, we can embrace them as opportunities for improvement. Humility transforms these challenges into valuable lessons, allowing us to reflect and grow from them rather than react defensively. When we approach setbacks with a mindset of learning, we open ourselves to the possibility of real, lasting growth.
Remember: Growth is never linear, and perfection isn’t real, but we still want to chase it nonetheless by constantly improving. True Kaizen only happens when we are open to hearing where we can do better, and we acknowledge that there is always something within ourselves that can be refined. This self-awareness is crucial, even when others or external factors also play a role in the situation. Our focus must remain on what we can control—our own growth—because that’s where real change —Personal Kaizen—begins.
As the week begins, may we all be inspired to live, work, and interact with others with humility. It’s okay not to know everything. It’s okay to ask questions, to admit when we’re stuck, and to lean on each other for support. But don’t stop at admitting what you lack, do something about it!
Go learn. Take action. Skill up. AbK from within! Say “I don’t know,” but also say “I’ll find out.“
Only allow yourself to be ignorant once. Make sure you know better next time. It’s in the action after our admission where our growth happens. The moment we stop rectifying our mistakes is the moment we hinder ourselves from being great.
