The Humbling Ride By Nathan S V, HR Leader at Deloitte Right after graduating from a top business school, I was excited to join a big B...
The Humbling Ride
By Nathan S V, HR Leader at Deloitte
Right after graduating from a top business school, I was excited to join a big British company in Bihar. They picked only the best, and I felt very proud of myself.
I reached Gomia by train early morning. My joining letter said a car would pick me up, but there was no one at the station. I spotted a man in khaki shorts near a car and assumed he was the driver.
I asked him (quite rudely) to open the trunk and take me to the guest house. He kindly agreed, loaded my luggage, and even asked if I was comfortable. During the ride, he chatted politely, but I gave short, cold replies. In my mind, he was “just a driver.”
When we reached, the guest house staff came running and saluted—what I thought was for me. The man wished me good luck and left.
The next day, I went to meet the Chief Executive of the factory—Dr. S.K. Varma. When he turned around, I was shocked. It was the same “driver”! I was speechless and deeply embarrassed.
He smiled and calmly explained that he was just at the station to see off a friend, saw me, and decided to help. He never mentioned the incident again, not even later in casual talks.
That day, I learned a life-changing lesson:
True humility means doing any role—big or small—without ego.
Dr. Varma never corrected me, never showed his position, and taught me something I will never forget.
