Are you really as calm as you think?

Just picked up a book about the good old Rockefeller.

Or the “Titan” as some call him.

Just 10 pages in, we got a story telling a thing or two about his person.

And a side found in most people (I think).

Here it goes:

Late in his life, he (the Titan) agreed to do a series of interviews.

You know the kind of thing where you lie on the couch and tell stories about your life. And the journalist takes notes.

Not for everyday people, but if you’re among the top 10 richest people in the world, that’s how you do it.

The Titan seems to be a rock most days.

You know, nothing can break his bones.

Untouchable.

During the interviews he answers the questions calm and clear.

And all this despite having haters all over the place. After all, being the top capitalist in the country sure attracted a lot of people with opinions. Some even called him the world’s most hated business man.

But no, he simply waved them off with a mix of sarcasm and humor.

All but one.

Let me introduce: Ida Minerva Tarbell.

Progressive investigative journalist. A bit more hip and cool than the oil behemoth.

And she was all over the Titan and his Standard Oil Company.

The interviewer knew this. And when he asked about some of Ida’s work, he broke Rockefeller’s calm facade.

“That is absolutely FALSE!”

When asking about some writing she had done about his father, Rockefeller said:

“She turned to this miserable fabrication, with all the sneers, all the malice, all the sly hintings and perversions of which she is master, and with more bitterness than ever attacked my father.”

Not so calm anymore, huh?

Cracks all over the place.

I think that is what happens to people.

You haven’t really dealt with your haters or your problems. You just locked them away in another part of your brain and threw the key away. “Compartmentalize your feelings” as Tiger Woods said when explaining how he can win week in, week out.

But…

Even though you throw the key really far. There’s often a spare one lying around in the house.

For the Titan, that key was Ida.

She showed us a part of his naked self.

The storm underneath.

Who’s your Ida?

If you liked it, maybe there’s a friend out there that would like it as well. Feel free to share it with them.

If you’re new here (and liked what you read), hit subscribe: