In this presentation, Matthew Lambert takes a close look at a quote that is regularly attributed to Ernest Hemingway. Lambert discusses how instrumental humility is to the process of self-improvement.

1. Humility and Self-improvement

2. “There is nothing noble in being
superior to your fellow man; true
nobility is being superior to your
former self.” – Ernest Hemingway

4. In a beautiful stroke of brevity and
wit, Hemingway touches on several
very important aspects of success.

5. I would like to dissect this quote,
here attributed to Hemingway, and
take a look at how it can be applied
to sales and the business world,
generally.

6. Before we begin, dear reader, it
must be stated that the quote has
not been verified as an actual quote
of Hemingway, but rather is listed
under his name in various places on
the internet — thereby attributing it
to the late author through repetition
rather than citation.

7. Regardless of its origin, the quote
touches on two key aspects of
success — humility and self-
improvement.

8. Humility

9. A key to long term happiness is
humility.

10. You can’t base your happiness off
the success of others.

11. If you are constantly comparing your
life to the lives of others, you will
regularly find yourself wanting.

12. No matter how high you rise there
will be a tier of people over you,
looking down.

13. Now, this can serve as motivation to
work harder and achieve more.

14. Having goals to chase and a dream
to fulfill are crucial and necessary,
but there must be a balance
between constantly comparing
yourself to other, more successful
people and finding happiness in
where you are currently.

15. Now don’t interpret that as
permission to grow complacent or
lazy.

16. You have to always be trying to grow
and improve, but the key is to not
do so for others, but rather for
yourself.

17. If your happiness is dictated by the
success of others, you may find
yourself at 70 with a life unlived.

18. At the risk of being overly cliche,
dear reader, I will use another
quote; “The only time you look in
your neighbor’s bowl is to make sure
that they have enough.

19. You don’t look in your neighbor’s
bowl to see if you have as much as
them.” - Louis C.K.

20. Self-improvement

21. After encouraging us to not compare
ourselves to others, Hemingway
goes on to describe who we should
be comparing ourselves to – our
former selves.

22. We can achieve “true nobility” by
striving to be better than previous
versions of ourselves.

23. We should identify where we can
improve and then enact changes
that will manifest in tangible
betterment.

24. Only though critical reflection on
your past choices, habits, and
actions are we able to identify what
has been limiting growth, stunting
success and thereby know what to
change.

25. Positive change must come from
within if you want lasting results.

26. It is not a totally useless endeavor to
try and replicate the habits of
successful people, but what is more
important is looking at what you do,
what you can do, and what works
for you.

27. By basing your successes on your
former success, rather than others
around you, then you can figure out
how to continue to grow.