19. Servanthood: To get ahead, put others first
Holding General H. Norman Schwarzkopf as the model of servanthood, Maxwell
recounted how Schwarzkopf went through a minefield to save an injured soldier.
Maxwell explained servanthood as “about attitude” and not “about position or
skill”. His tips for improving servanthood are: perform small acts, learn to
walk slowly through the crowd and move into action. Maxwell’s conviction is
that “If you (sic) want to lead on the highest level, be willing to serve on the
lowest.”
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My thoughts
“Servant” is an Anglo-French word believed to be first used in the 13th
century. I’ve hardly seen the word servant being used now, except in texts
describing rich households who employed their servants for life instead of the
revolving door of domestic helpers nowadays. Since I’m not even sure what
“servanthood” means, I have no idea what to make of this chapter. I would
probably describe General Schwarzkopf’s rescue as heroic.
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