NO PERSONAL PRIDE- ANYTHING IS GOOD ENOUGH

NO PERSONAL PRIDE- ANYTHING IS GOOD ENOUGH

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

In the past a person who did everything right and to the best of his ability through intense effort was said to have personal pride in his work. It was a complementary overall assessment of an individual’s character. Besides it produced a feeling of gratitude in the person arising from creating something considered positive and laudable to themselves and others.

Values associated with a person with personal pride are honesty, dependability, quality of production and inner motivation to do the best in any and every endeavor.  Pride has nothing to do with boasting about oneself, dubious deeds or being a snob. The word “pride” in our traditional culture meant the best of a group or a class such as “this bull is the pride of the herd.” It showed the original positive connotation of the word “pride.” Having personal pride in doing one’s best effort was considered a wonderful attribute for any individual.

This present connotation is a corruption of the word pride. In our current culture virtues that urge us to lead a quality moral lifestyle have been targeted and ridiculed until they have taken on a negative connotation. No longer is the word pride about how well you produce something of value, precision or beauty. Instead pride has come to mean a cocky, conceited, self-centered, promoting braggart who uses his connections through networking and branding skills to gain a sales advantage. The quality of the product as well as the character of the person is less important than the immediate quarterly profit margin.

Our modern culture promotes a more direct and rapid road to economic success. The more someone brags about himself and his so-called successes the more respect he gets among the movers and shakers in the local Chamber of Commerce and with the elites in Washington, D. C. This type of interpersonal smoozing takes a lot of time and effort but may not result in a superior service or product and creates a short-term positive company image that deteriorates with age.

The connection with in-your-face self-importance has turned the positive meaning of pride upside down. It transformed the wonderful trait of a person consistently doing his best effort and the idea of work itself as something to be avoided. Work has become a dirty, four-letter word beneath the dignity of someone who is intelligent, charming or wealthy. Effort in any endeavor is for the non-privileged not for the elite who are supposedly endowed with incredible knowledge and wisdom.

Today in order to appear superior to others a person should hide or disguise his work ethic. It is cool to act effortless. Even the benefits of quality work have been called into question by college professors as nothing more than a sign of “white privilege.” According to social justice claims “meritocracy” is a means of keeping whites in power. The personal satisfaction of doing a job well has been lost especially among the indoctrinated young people. The appreciation of the work ethic and learning discipline that leads to producing an item of excellence is now seen as unnecessary and worthless.

“Just getting by” or “anything is good enough” attitudes are indicators of how far we have fallen as a competitive and vibrant society. In our present state we are accepting mediocrity and laziness as the new normal, which is very dangerous. It will lead to a great reliance on the nanny-state to bail out these non-productive, non-competitive citizens.

Our public schools are more dedicated to appeasing parents and students than keeping high academic expectations and standards. Grade inflation and high student self esteem have replaced competition amongst students, teaching facts, the three R’s and critical thinking. The few students who concentrate on their studies at home are ashamed to admit it, instead they deny expending any effort to get their high grades.

There are still Americans who have pride in everything they do whether it is their profession, craft, hobby or business. They are committed to their mission that has become an integral part of their identity. These people should be admired for their commitment to excellence not treated with distain for their hard earned achievements.

When a person can examine his product and know it is as close to perfect as he can accomplish, it confirms his purpose to others. The creative quality production of a person increases self worth. It is another building block in developing the individual’s life’s legacy.

All Americans should be thankful that there are citizens who take pride in their work. These incredible people comprise a small but powerful meritocracy of doing the best in everything they do. They are the perfect antidote to the “anything goes,” slacker movement of our current culture.  

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.