Leading from the Middle

Caption: Visiting my “BFF”.
“A certain man put an Image on the back of his Ass to take it to one of the temples of the town. As they went along the road all the people they met uncovered and bowed their heads out of reverence for the Image; but the Ass thought they were doing it out of respect for himself, and began to give himself airs accordingly. At last he became so conceited that he imagined he could do as he liked, and, by way of protest against the load he was carrying, he came to a full stop and flatly declined to proceed any further. His driver, finding him so obstinate, hit him hard and long with his stick, saying the while, ‘Oh, you dunder-headed idiot, do you suppose it's come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass?’"

“Rude shocks await those who take to themselves the credit that is due to others.”

And so it can be when we, as institutional representatives, go and ask for donations from rich alumni (“alums” for those of us in the foundation biz). If you’ve gotten your foot in the mansion’s door, it’s not due to your ebullient personality, however charming. You’re on the doorstep only because the institution – which you represent - may be the alum’s sweetest memory of four sunshine-filled undergraduate years. Their embracing welcome does not mean you are their friend. You are a messenger that reminds them of those halcyon days. Stray over into friendship and court disappointment. And, unless you maintain the distinction, your “ASK” – when you hit them up for the big bucks – may result in a much smaller donation because of familiarity’s effect.

*Source: AESOP'S FABLES A NEW TRANSLATION BY V. S. VERNON JONES WITH AN INTRODUCTION By G. K. CHESTERTON AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARTHUR RACKHAM (Publisher: London: W. Heinemann; New York: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1912).
Available at Gutenberg Project.

Leading from the Middle Library of the Week: University of Manitoba

Copyright John Lubans 2014

 

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