If you know much about William Tecumseh Sherman, you’re probably unable to think of him as the soft and squishy type. In fact, at least based on his wartime actions and his writings, Sherman was cantankerous, honest to a fault (even when it was uncomfortable), stoic to the point of hardly showing any emotion at all, and merciless. His “March to the Sea” is perhaps one of the better known military campaigns in all of US history, not only for the pragmatic genius behind it but also because of the amount of damage he inflicted on the South in such a short period of time.
In his writings and in the writings about him, I can think of only two people to whom Sherman showed respect and affection. One was Ulysses S. Grant, whom Sherman profoundly respected. The other was a woman named Mary Ann Bickerdyke, who served Sherman’s troops for four years by feeding them, finding food for them, and caring for them. Her ability to organize and execute plans to keep up the care of her men inspired Sherman to say, “She ranks me.”
Now that’s quite a statement. Sherman, a general, a man in the 19th century, a man who was having increasing amounts of success, points to a woman and says, “She ranks me.” It was oddly humble. It was oddly favorable. Coming from Sherman, in fact, it was just plain odd. But this tells you how amazing “Mother” Bickerdyke must have truly been.
When you reach a point of success, it’s important to acknowledge other people who have done things you feel are more extraordinary. Doing this helps keep your feet firmly planted and it helps prevent your head from becoming too big. Doing this reminds you that you are not the greatest gift to creation now. Doing this reminds you that other people may be traveling paths that are more fraught with danger than yours. Doing this reminds you that other people might be working more towards a greater good than you are. Doing this gives you an outside perspective on your own success. It gives you context.
Sherman is known in our history books as an extraordinary messenger of death and destruction. Mary Ann Bickerdyke is known as a bringer of care and compassion. Can you weigh which kind of success is better remembered?
When I have some sort of social media success, I think of women like Molly Cantrell-Kraig, Angela Daffron, and Jennifer Windrum, who are using social media for social good. When I do a good deed, I think about people like Steve Woodruff, who travels to Haiti to help those in need (far more than anything I’ve ever done). These people rank me.
Who might you think of as people who “rank” you? It doesn’t have to be a comparative thing. It is more a perspective thing. Who would you strive to be, even at a moment of your greatest success? Why do they rank you? And would you try to travel that path you admire or would you rather let them shine on alone?
I’m interested to hear your thoughts!
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elycefeliz/6339323665 via Creative Commons
I feel like every human being has their uniquely difficult road and their uniquely special impact. I think it’s impossible to compare, and we’re all best served by comparing ourselves to our potential. Have we done everything we can do today? When we get to know others, to understand what they’re striving for, what their struggles are, then we’re in a better place to celebrate their successes (because we know just how hard fought they are) and help encourage them if they’re not living up to their potential.
I thought the full context of that quote was interesting:
When his staff complained about the outspoken, insubordinate female nurse who consistently disregarded the army’s red tape and military procedures, Union Gen. William T. Sherman threw up his hands and exclaimed, “She ranks me. I can’t do a thing in the world.”[1] Bickerdyke was a nurse who ran roughshod over anyone who stood in the way of her self-appointed duties. She was known affectionately to her “boys”, the grateful enlisted men, as “Mother” Bickerdyke. When a surgeon questioned her authority to take some action, she replied, “On the authority of Lord God Almighty, have you anything that outranks that?”[2]
That was a woman who had a purpose and wasn’t going to let anyone stand in her way. She was fully convicted about what she was doing. And even General Sherman couldn’t stand in the way of that. And, frankly, she wasn’t standing in the way of the things that he was fully convicted HE should be doing, or that story might read a little differently 😉
@mantywebdesigns Well said! Sherman was a pragmatist. He may not have liked her process, but he was smart enough to know that she was keeping his men in the best shape they could be in under those circumstances. That was more valuable than just about anything. He wouldn’t have wanted to stand in her way, really. It would be interesting to learn what she thought of all of the bloodshed that occurred at his hands – I might have to do some research on that. But she stuck by him and his boys.
I’ve been thinking about how to honor all my Twitter followers who have blogs. I’ve visited most of them – and subscribed to those that have subscription options. I need to give them more mentions. Thanks for the reminder.
Janet | expateducator.com
@jabbacrombie thanks Janet. Glad it got the hamsters spinning 🙂
I think he made my lawn mower engine. I wonder why he looks like my great-grandmother?
@bdorman264 Silly head 🙂
Success is a powerful and scary drug. Always better to remain hungry and scrappy. Thought provoking post, Margie.
@geoffliving Thanks Geoff! I agree. I’ve yet to get to a point where I feel like I’ve accomplished everything possible. I hope I never get there.
I think often of the journalists who have gone to countries knowing full well they may never make it home. So committed to getting the story out that they risked their lives. Not to mention the folk on Twitter and other channels risking their lives to tell us.I think of doctors without borders who go into countries with diseases that are too scary for me to mention. Brands willing to take up political causes that loose them customers but force people to look at the question of human rights and acceptance (JC Penny & Oreo to name two).
Why do they rank me, probably due to the bravery they show. How often would we really risk our lives to help another? How often would we risk our reputation to tell a story? I do not believe that we are selfish people, but the issue is not black or white. People contribute to the social good in the ways they feel most comfortable.
Even when I think of business people and bloggers that I currently admire, they are much more comfortable with controversy then me. That is something I would like to change over the next year. To get more comfortable stating my own opinions with conviction.