Everyone likes to be recognized. That is the reason the letter thrills me.
Everyone likes to be recognized. That is the reason the letter thrills me.
The official letter on the letterhead of “Manchester Who’s Who empowering
executives and professionals” said someone recently appointed me as a biographical
candidate in a volume of their Who’s Who. I checked again, and sure enough,
the letter is not a “to whom it may concern” or “resident,”
it is addressed to me personally, “Lynn Clayton.” Cannot be a mistake.
Then, the next paragraph says that the company is “pleased to inform you
that your candidacy was approved. Your confirmation for inclusion will be effective
within 5 business days, pending our receipt of the enclosed and application.”
How wonderful. I wish my father and mother were still alive to know of this
honor. They would have been so proud to know their son was being recognized.
They would have been pleased, just as soon as they got over the shock.
And my kids . . . I can just imagine how proud they will be when I show them
the award. Their attitude has always been, “Who’s He?” And now,
I will be in the 2003/2004 Honors Edition of the Registry. I will point to the
sentence in the letter that says, “The Director thinks that you may make
an interesting biographical subject, as individual achievement is what Manchester
Who’s Who is all about.”
Hopefully, my wife will be impressed.
Wow. I cannot imagine what achievement they might mean, but who am I to argue?
They don’t say I have to buy the book for my biography to be in it, but
why else would I want my name in it if I cannot show it to everyone? It would
certainly be worth the exorbitant price. I do not believe the skeptics that
say the only reason they put my name in it is so I will buy one or more of the
books.
Wait a minute. It could be they are more interested in selling me one or more
books than getting to know about me. I pick up just a hint of that here where
it says my biography will be listed in “Manchester Who’s Who Among
Executive and Professional Women.” Women? Surely, they do not want to honor
me, a man, with all those women.
Ah. I get it. They think I am a woman because my first name is Lynn. They do
not know enough about me to know if I am a man or a woman, so how can they think
I am a fit person to list in their book if it is so special? They really do
not want to honor me at all – they just want to sell me books. The only
autograph they want of mine is the one on a check or credit card form and I
feel certain they would have included me if my only achievement were stacking
20 BBs while standing on my head.
Amazing how companies trade on human vanity. Not just publishers of so-called
“who’s who” books but companies that sell everything from cars
to clothes to makeup. And the reason they trade on our desire to be recognized,
to be seen as special, is because it works and works so well.
Thinking through the earthly ministry of Jesus, he never appealed to a person’s
fleshly ego. True, he made them feel special because he genuinely respected
them and treated them special for whom they were, but there was never any false
catering to human pride.
Jesus shows us we have value with or without recognition. He also helps us
understand the need people have for honest appreciation, which he gave, and
we are to give.
Excuse me, now. I have to decide how many copies of that book I may need. I
wonder what list of names and addresses they bought that had mine on it