I think the Japanese have got it right on one big point. When you say you are working somewhere, you don’t just say ‘I’m working here’, although you can, you say ‘I’ve been given the privilege to work here’. That’s a key difference, because it shows how much you appreciate your job.

The world’s top actors and actresses, they could ask for more money for their films, but they know they risk not getting the position. They are humble and they understand that it’s a privilege to do their work. A piece of humility that can get you far.

The problem, of course, is when this is taken advantage of, as I think is the case in many companies around here. That’s why you’ve got to know when enough is enough and you’re being used. Find someone who respects your humility.