The Guy in the Glass
December 9th, 2004 by Steve Pavlina
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One of my favorite poems is “The Guy in the Glass,” which is about integrity and honesty to oneself. I first encountered it 20 years ago. It is usually mistitled as “The Man in the Glass” and is often inaccurately credited to the enormously prolific author Anonymous. The true author of the poem is Dale Wimbrow (1895-1954), who wrote it in 1934. Here it is:
When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.
* The word pelf in the first line means “wealth.” The word self is often incorrectly substituted.
I have a copy of this poem posted in my office, as a reminder to myself to live consciously instead of falling into the trap of living to fulfill other people’s goals at the expense of my mission. Every time I read it, I gain a greater sense of clarity, a feeling of certainty about what I need to focus on next.
I recommend you follow the instructions in the 3rd and 4th lines of the poem literally, even if just for a couple minutes. Look yourself in the eye and listen to your thoughts. Is the guy in the glass your friend?
December 9th, 2004 at 7:41 pm
Thank you for an inspiring thought.
December 10th, 2004 at 3:40 am
That’s very true. I will take some time this WE to look at myself in the mirror…
December 10th, 2004 at 6:42 am
One of my all time favorites as well.
December 10th, 2004 at 8:25 am
Great poem. Thanks for sharing.
December 10th, 2004 at 10:30 am
Another “inspiring thing”. I have a problem with things that are supposed to inspire me. Often people recommend sayings or poems like this one and say how it inspires them. Which is great, I don’t have a problem with that. But! Invariably, when I read these things myself, I think “okay, that was nice”. And, well, that’s about it. Phrases and poems just don’t do it for me. Personally, I like examples. Reading other people’s success stories and the obstacles they had to overcome is what gets my juices flowing. That’s one of the reasons why I’m a bit disappointed reading “Crossing the Chasm”. Not enough examples. I thrive on examples. Anybody know where I can go for war stories?
December 10th, 2004 at 1:17 pm
henning: the poem is all you need.
steve thanks for posting it.
December 10th, 2004 at 11:39 pm
Hey Henning,
I remember Steve mentioned a book who was very gung-ho. And in that book the author talked about Navy Seals who lasted days in physical intensity….or something to that effect. Maybe someone else knows what I’m looking for?
December 11th, 2004 at 6:57 am
I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking to change his ways.
ooh-ooh-ooh
December 11th, 2004 at 7:40 am
The book was either Take Control or Power Living, both by Michael Janke, who’s an ex-SEAL. They’re essentially the same book though.
December 13th, 2004 at 2:08 pm
Need to please God 1st,then yourself.
December 13th, 2004 at 7:22 pm
hey mike: can you tell me where you found god? I want to please him too.
December 16th, 2004 at 3:23 pm
botluck: the Bible is a good start.
June 17th, 2005 at 5:22 pm
My Grandmother gave me this poem while I was in college and I never forgot it. I am giving it to my son now.