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Here Comes The Pride

• Stuart Bailie
• 30 Jul 07, 03:30 PM

A weird package was sent to me recently. The postmark was from Northern Ireland and the handwriting on the envelope was tiny. There was no cover note, no mark of identification. Inside there was a sheaf of printed notes ¨C an arcane design for life. At first, I though it was some kind of junk package. But no, it had been delivered expressly for my benefit.

Was it some kind of spiritual tract, a get-rich scheme or a barmpot proposition? The weight of the document alarmed me, and instead of skimming the contents, I shoved it in my bag. I fetched it out a few times, but there was never the time to read it properly to see what the anonymous character wanted me to know.

Finally, I had my chance. The title was ΅®Executive Hubris΅―, which wasn΅―t the sexiest come-on ever. But I read on. It had the tone of a motivational lecture ¨C full of big rhetoricals, showstopper punch-lines and a few parables from the billionaires who know better.

The gist of the idea is that people in charge of ambitious projects can often become big-headed with their station. This ultimately ruins their judgement and they make decisions based in their ego, not their reasoning. As your granny would say, ΅®pride takes a fall΅―.

Maybe someone out there thinks I΅―m a little cocky, that my various schemes are too wrapped up in personal gratification. That may be the case, and certainly it΅―s helpful to be grounded on occasions, to re-evaluate your plans. So for that advice, I thank my nameless well-wisher.

On the other hand, I believe that Ulster people are far too prudent, averse to risks and the fun that comes with throwing a bold idea into the aether. It΅―s part of our fundamentalist history, and it΅―s inbuilt to our rural survival instincts. In the past, our dreamers were often slapped down, or encouraged to leave town. But we΅―re no longer dirt poor, and the new Northern Ireland is worth a few interesting punts. So hey, we΅―ll talk the talk, but maybe try not to over-egg the ego.

Stu Bailie presents The Late show on Radio Ulster, every Friday from 10pm until midnight. See his playlist here.

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