Class

Erving
As a child one of my favorite athletes was Julius Erving [“Dr. J”]. Aside from being one of the best basketball players of all time, he carried himself much differently than most other athletes. Those around him were always amazed at how kind and humble he was. He gave of himself through his work with countless charities. What drew me to him as a child was the class he had both on and off the court. Having class is a true differentiator in any walk of life, as it requires a strong moral compass combined with the ability to consistently say and do the right thing.

Classy individuals are givers not takers. They refuse to take advantage of others. It’s not about what’s in it for them, it’s more about finding a mutually beneficial solution.

People with class understand the responsibility of being a role model. Every one of us is, or will be, a role model for someone. It could be your child, a junior coworker, or a younger person in your neighborhood. Accepting this responsibility means that you should strive to conduct yourself accordingly.

People with class realize reputation is everything, especially in business. Do you provide real value for your customers or stakeholders? Do you face problems head on, or do you hide from them? Building a good reputation takes years. Destroying a reputation can happen in a moment. Don’t allow your emotions or your ego in one situation to impact the reputation you have worked so hard to build.

Authenticity is a prerequisite for class. If you are superficial or disingenuous, people will eventually see through you. I live near Boca Raton, Florida. While Boca has many wealthy people, there is a large group of people who do not have money but pretend they do. They do this to impress others. Living beyond your means is not only inauthentic, but tremendously stressful. The worry of not having enough to pay bills is incredibly stressful. That stress causes health issues, strains relationships, and often causes people to do unethical things in an attempt to maintain the lifestyle. It amazes me how far some people will go to impress others. The classiest people I know have no need to prove anything to others. They allow their lifestyle and actions speak for themselves.

Actions over words—Ever encounter those people that feel the need to continuously tell you about themselves? You see them constantly on reality shows. This is typically an insecurity that is hiding a shortfall. As a child I was hanging around with one kid that liked to brag. One day my father overheard me bragging about how fast I could run. He pulled me aside and told me that I should never tell people about myself, instead wait for the opportunity to show them.

When I think about my legacy, I ask myself what one word would represent the greatest compliment. That word is class.