Comments on: How to Be a Gentleman and a Scholar

By: Melissa Flavia

Melissa Flavia — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:27:44 +0000

Hi Colin,
Everyday is a balancing act. I too have been striving to cater to my needs and to the needs of others around me. It’s difficult at times, but definitely worth the effort. I think if you remain too much of a gentlemen you grow resentful because you’ve neglected your own needs and if you are too much of a scholar, you may seem or feel selfish. At least, that’s from my experience. Anyway, look forward to reading your blogs.

Melissa

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:43:14 +0000

I like the combo of gentleman and scholar.

I think what trips folks up about balance is the cycle of things. It helps to think in terms of where you are in the cycle (the ebb and flow of things, or the up time or down time.)

By: colin

colin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:33:30 +0000

@Ralph: Glad you’re in the same boat, Ralph! I’m not someone who thinks that you should give up everything you own to someone else ‘just because,’ (that leads to a world full of people who are slowly being drained and those who are slowly draining them). Much better to help others express themselves, show them how to contribute value to society as a whole, etc. The ‘give a man a fish/teach a man to fish’ metaphor definitely applies here, I believe.

@molly wright: Well gee, thanks Mom Means a lot coming from an insightful writer like yourself!

@Graham: I totally had the same experience in design school, and now with business practices with some of my more creative friends. If you’re good at something, you’ll get even better at it by sharing that knowledge with others. The day of hoarding information is over. As many intelligent people have said, “Information wants to be free.” I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly, and I think those who are making an effort to free information but still profit off of it will be the ones left standing when this economic shakeup is finally over.

Thanks for the comments, folks!

By: Graham

Graham — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:13:23 +0000

I am definitely a Scholar-type person and I totally agree with your crossover techniques. Because I studied engineering in college I am really good at calculus and physics. So I ended up tutoring all my business-major friends in basic calculus. True, I was giving them my time, but I was also investing in them in terms of strengthening our friendship and possible reciprocation if I needed help. Also, by the time I was in my 3rd and 4th year, going over all that basic stuff with my friends that I learned back in my 1st year really helped to solidify the knowledge and make sure I didn’t completely forget it.

By: molly wright

molly wright — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:13:33 +0000

I always find your posts to be extremely well thought out. There’s a tidbit or two of information and wisdom within each one that everyone can take away with them. This one is no exception – keep up the great work.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:09:16 +0000

Firm believer in serving others before you are served!! I feel the same way about loving others. Self improvement, for me at least, doesn’t work unless I teach others. Jim Rohn said that a full glass can’t hold anymore water unless you pour out the water that is already inside. Great idea for a post and well executed!