The Art & Science of Respect: A Memoir by James Prince

by James Prince

I was taught that you must believe in something bigger than yourself in order to get something bigger than yourself.

The vulnerability of a leader is often their own ego, which makes them unable to submit. Everyone, at some point in life, must learn to submit when necessary. In the streets, you may have to submit to a supplier who switches up the terms, or a police officer who’s riding you pretty tough. At home you may have to submit to your spouse to keep the peace. In business, submission can be a great short-term tactic towards a long-term goal. But if your ego won’t allow you to submit when necessary, it becomes a liability.

First, even the most popular king must remind everyone of their own mortality. If you reign too long and soar too high for extended periods of time, people can’t identify with you and their respect becomes resentment.

Even when the odds are against you, the fact that you’re still willing to fight is sometimes enough to earn respect. I don’t pick easy fights. Losing a title fight will always matter more than winning a spar.

Like many other criminals, Frank had overlooked one important fact: it’s not the extra that draws attention. It’s the failure to maintain the normal that usually gets you caught.