1 QUOTE

"And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

- Mark 9:35

1 NOTE

You can read the introduction to the Sample Leadership series here.

Frank Lloyd-Wright is a world famous architect. Many consider him the greatest architect of the 20th century. Stephen Sample is not one of them. As President of state university at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), Sample lived in the president’s home, designed in the early 1900s by Frank Lloyd-Wright. Sample and his wife Kathryn lamented the design and function. The dwelling was a work of art but an absolute failure as a home.

Sample did research and read the voluminous letters exchanged between Wright and the original home owners. The evidence was clear: Wright was a megalomaniac of global proportions. He made it clear that he could care less about the needs and desires of those who hired him, and had to live in his work of art. Sample concluded that Wright confused his professional obligation (to serve his clients) with serving his own ego, reputation and financial interests. This is why Sample titled his chapter on experts, “Saviors or Charlatans?”

Recently, the aging air-conditioner in our home finally gave out. We asked our builder friend for help. The first HVAC expert he sent over was rude, racist and charged us double, adding a unit we didn’t need. (Becky and I did get big laughs from his racist comment on our air). The second HVAC expert was kind, efficient, and his quote was half the price of the first. Becky and I know little about home air. We were at the mercy of two experts. One was a racist charlatan. The other was a faithful servant. George Bernard Shaw’s words ring true, “Every profession is a conspiracy against the laity.”

1 QUESTION

Have you had to rely on an expert recently at home, work or school? Were than an expert savior or a charlatan?

Until Next Tuesday,

John