A few weeks ago I was giving a presentation to group of powerful people. It was an important presentation for me, so naturally I wanted to get it right. I went through my usual preparation routine. I had practiced the pitch, polished the slides, and rehearsed in my hotel room. And of course getting the presentation right was part of my prayers that day.
As the meetings began, I learned that the person introducing me was an extremely powerful and influential player in my professional life. And a billionaire. Now I have the chance to work with lots of influential people as part of my job. I have been introduced to some very rich people, humble people, and people everywhere in between. And at the end of the day they are all just people. Some of them impressive, some more, and some less than others. And this has taught me what most the world already knows: money doesn’t buy you taste or smarts. Sometimes it does, but not always.
But let’s be honest, when you are being introduced by someone who commands armies of dollars and influence at a time, it can kind of be a big deal.
So you can imagine my surprise when this person came over to me and said quietly, “Aaron, you have a unique last name. I want to get it right. Help me practice the pronunciation.”
As an Armenian, this was not a new scenario. Nor is it one that has ever made me uncomfortable. I learned at a very early age to embrace the multi-syllabic wonder of my last name. My last name is something I love and I carry it proudly as a reminder of my heritage and promise. But it’s a long one, and that isn’t always easy for everyone. So I also learned many years ago not to take personally any mispronunciation or fumbling of my surname. As I see it, it is part of the territory and I am sure I have benevolently mispronounced so many names in my time.
That is what made the rest of this exchange with this very powerful person such an insightful lesson for me.
He rehearsed my name and then said, “I apologize if I get it wrong.” I went back with my standard reply, we talked about Armenian people we know in common and reassured him. “Not to worry, it’s a long last name. I understand”
“It’s important,” he said. “It’s your name…one of the most important things you’ve got. So it matters to me.”
Even though a billionaire, this man took the time to get my name right, and reminded me that I should treat everyone’s name with the same respect he was showing mine. He reminded me that what makes people impressive is the way they treat others, not what is in their portfolio. At that moment, this man and I were talking about important assets. Ones that last forever.
I will remember this incident, and will take extra time before introducing someone with a new or unfamiliar last name in the future. And if I get yours wrong, please tell me. It’s important to you, so it matters to me.
1 comment
Aaron, a gem of a piece. at the end of the day, I always say, we’re all the same. We just want a little bit of respect and a bit of acknowledgement–and I bet you the secret to this person’s success is exactly that–he’s never forgotten to show the same kind of respect he likes to have shown toward him. Thanks for sharing this!!