Humility Is Learned at Home

Posted August 22nd, 2007

Maria Saporta, writing about business leaders in the Atlanta J-C Jan. 25, told about Joseph Ratcliffe, CEO of Southern Co. Ratcliffe grew up in South Georgia, as I did. He was named president of Georgia Power in 1999. When he told his father, the father said, “God Almighty, that’s an important job. Do they know what they’re doing?” I don’t know Mr. Ratcliffe, but he was selected as CEO of the year. It appears they did know what they were doing.

Those South Georgia men, of my father’s generation, knew how to keep one humble. Good enough was not satisfactory. Doing better than you did before was satisfactory. That’s not a bad thing, and it tends to make one work a little harder and take nothing good for granted. I believe it also makes one strive for excellence.

I am grateful for the opportunities in my career, knowing that most of my ancestors worked hard days and nights on farms. My father farmed for one year, after he came back from World War II. He decided farming was not for him. After the farm loans were paid, he made 75 cents in profit.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 at 2:45 pm and is filed under In the News, Leadership.