the irony of arrogance

Recently I was talking to an entrepreneur complaining about the arrogance of investors he had been speaking to. I actually hear this quite often in the community, and it typically takes a few different forms:

• The investor doesn't think much of your idea
• The investor doesn't seem to take any interest in the conversation
• The investor seems to be more thrilled with his/her own spin on your idea
• The investor never gets back to you or follows up, even when they said they would

There's of course a few obvious elements at play here - some ideas appeal to some investors - finding the right 'match' is crucial. Investors also have overflowing inboxes and too many commitments, so following up can be difficult.

BUT, let's consider this as though it really is a personality thing - pure arrogance. How to deal with arrogant people?

Let's turn to the heart of the issue - why do arrogant people get on our nerves? Because they offend our own ego, which is to say, our own arrogance. Therein lies the irony - that the only people offended by arrogance are those who are arrogant themselves.

Thus, the answer to arrogance is to respond with humulity. To 'be the change we wish to see in the world'. Humble people are powerful because they have such a deep well of self-value that they need not look for it elsewhere (i.e. from other people). They're not offended by arrogance because they don't have the ego for it. Instead, they can learn and respond with an open mind, which of course is far more impressive than the furrowed brow and hollow response of the embittered entrepreneur.