I love stories of humility.
Like the one of Warren Buffett choosing to live in the original house he bought in Omaha in 1958.
Or the one about Warren Buffett when he swapped his old truck out for a simple Cadillac in 2006.
Or the one when Warren Buffett (have you heard of him?) traded that old Cadillac for a newer one in 2014, was impressed by the employees at the dealership, and sent a letter of praise to the General Motor’s CEO Mary Barra.
Men like Buffett obviously impress me.
To have so much wealth, yet to still prefer simplicity. That’s the type of life that I’d like to model.
Did you hear about the king who does landscaping?
Eric Manu is from Ghana.
He lives in Canada. He’s a landscaper.
And he was recently crowned chief of the 6,000-person Akan tribe in West Africa. As the next in line for the throne, he accepted the position.
If I were king for a day, I don’t think I’d stay in my landscaping job. But Manu stayed in held his job in Canada to raise some money to help his tribe.
“Sometimes we go to the job site and they say, ‘You are the chief. I saw you on TV. Why are you doing landscaping?’ This is humbleness, you understand. Anytime I’m in Canada, I’m proud to work for my boss.”
Since being crowned, Manu has done his best to help his tribe.
He’s started a weekly group workout. Dozens of people gather in the morning for a mile-and-a-half jog that looks—and sounds—more like a parade of dancers than a run. He’s working on the village’s healthcare and schooling systems.
Manu is a great man who is making a difference.
And what does his Canadian boss think of this?
She loves it.
Susan Watson not only loves what her employee is doing. She’s also supporting it in a tangible and meaningful way.
Watson started the To the Moon and Back Foundation, which sent clothes and school supplies to the village this year. Their next focus is on helping Manu bolster up the healthcare services in the village.
Manu’s boss didn’t stop at donations.
She visited the tribe. Talk about humility. Does your boss do this? Would they? If you’re the boss, would you?
“They’re beautiful inside and out,” said Watson about her new friends in Ghana. “They have absolutely nothing. And you come home here, and most of us are miserable and all we want is something more.”
And that right there is the beauty of simplicity, the promise of humility.
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Photo: Flickr/Budi Nusyirwan
Hope for Humanity. Nice.