THE ANTITHESIS OF SALIERI’S WORDS!
As a neophyte academician in 1980, I was struck by that brilliant collection of words. Further, I was struck a second time by the message or rather the antithesis of the message. It was the opposite meaning of Salieri’s words that hit me between the eyeballs. Inter-ocular-wise, the antithesis undergirds our professional accountability and success:
“All that we say and do professionally must be regarded as distinguished by peers who are capable of distinguishing.” Berk’s Law (2010)
The “peer review process” establishes the credibility of our work and our worth. It determines the value of our contributions and our advancement in academia. That process also represents the standard of excellence in the profession. Although it is judgment-based and fallible, that standard is sacrosanct; mediocrity is simply unacceptable. (NOTE: These reflections also apply to many other professions.)
BOTTOM LINE: FAME and being regarded as DISTINGUISHED are based on what other people think about you. The culture perpetuates this notion of affirmation of our self-worth by others. Salieri knew the truth. Despite the legitimate role of peer review in our professional world, ultimately the quality of what we say and do is in our hands. That’s who we are now and who we will become.
This message was told slightly differently to hundreds of college basketball players at UCLA in the 1960s and ‘70s by their legendary coach John Wooden who recently passed away: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
What are your thoughts on any of the preceding reflections? Something must have stirred within or outside of you. Tell me. Come on, spew it out. You know you want to comment. What struck you? Do it!
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
PROFESSIONAL REFLECTIONS
After reading the quote in my previous blog, how are your tracks? Shaking? Quaking? Mine are blown away. Don’t you wish you could write like that? What are your thoughts? WAIT! Don’t tell me yet. Hold them until the end.
There are at least 2 parts to the quote I want to address: (1) fame based on work you know to be absolutely worthless, and (2) being regarded as distinguished by people incapable of distinguishing.
IS THERE ANY INTEGRITY TO ATTAINING FAME?
Do you know anyone who has attained fame and recognition without earning it the ole’ fashioned way? Of course you do. Just consider the celebrities who grab the headlines or write books they didn’t write that immediately become best-sellers. If you create the right YouTube video and, if it goes viral, you can have fame thrust upon you.
Are these famous people a flash in the pan or for real? Many don’t care, because how ever they achieved fame didn’t matter; they’re already laughing on each trip to the bank! Reputation, character, and integrity are of lesser importance than "fame" and money.
How does this happen? It’s an artifact of our culture. Celebrity worship is deeply ingrained. And, unfortunately, this artifact has infected the workplace, regardless of your profession. But there have always been cases where colleagues are recognized or promoted or have otherwise attained fame without truly deserving it.
So what? Were Salieri’s words on target? Kinda. But his work wasn't totally worthless. It is still being played on YouTube videos, as Julia Petrakis brought to my attention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Q3dlQZt_E&feature=player_embedded# !
So where’s the integrity in fame? As a professional, it seems clear that there are those who earn it and those who don’t? Which course have you followed in the past? More important, which one do you choose to follow in the future?
After all, whose work survived and, in fact, flourished? Whose contributions to music stood the test of time? Salieri’s or Mozart’s? Well, both are on YouTube! What do you want your legacy or epitaph to be?
Now what thoughts are racing through your brain? Have you observed evidence of Salieri’s words in your profession or elsewhere? What course should you follow?
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
