This morning early January 2026 I reflected again on the blog and that day the first week of January while walking out of the coffee shop a young man replied when I addressed him have a nice day and Happy New Year his response was “Thank You Sir” to me instead of Thanks Man or Dude.
I wrote about catching myself asking a strange but powerful question: When did I become a Sir and what does that mean.
This morning a week later it hit me that I need to take this Sir thing seriously, with intention and asked the question “How am I going to take that responsibility on” in other words what am I going to do today to deserve the title “Sir”? I think I am going to look at it as a promotion of purpose, earned daily, So I thought about a daily intention that can be called out every morning and I can execute starting with my morning walk.
So I stopped on the side walk and scrolled through my calendar, I saw 3 in person meetings, a lunch, a handful of calls. Every one of them mattered — each had momentum, energy, and people I truly respect. But what struck me was that not one of those interactions was about me or needed me in the room. Not a single one. They were about the growth, the clarity, the opportunity of others. And for the first time, I recognized that as something profound. The days of it being about me? They’re gone mmm felt the same way about these meetings as I did the Sir title when did this happen — and then I smiled because no matter what I think —that’s exactly how it should be — everything about me should be for others today not for me —my time is done —then I reflected some more.
When I was younger, every conversation, every negotiation, even every “collaboration” still had a trace of personal calculus in it. What could this mean for my next move? How could it lift my visibility? That’s natural early in the journey — ambition fuels progress. But somewhere along the way, the measure of a good day started to shift.
Now, I look around me and think in terms of ecosystems — people, projects, and partners moving in rhythm. The question isn’t “What can I get from this?” but “How can I help this flourish?” The moment that mindset clicks, you realize you’ve been promoted — not in title, but in spirit. That’s becoming a Sir.
A “Sir,” as I see it, is someone who operates with quiet intention. You don’t walk into the day looking to win; you walk in looking to serve. You want to make things work better, make people stronger, make ideas breathe. You’re available, constructive, and maybe even invisible — because the best kind of leadership is often the kind others don’t notice until much later.
The goal isn’t to check out or disappear — it’s to become part of something that outlasts you. Every introduction, every strategy meeting, every word of encouragement becomes a small act of architecture, building a structure that holds others up.
Being a Sir is not about hierarchy; it’s about humanity. It’s the moment you realize you’re no longer the center of the story — you’re a builder helping others rise. And that’s the highest form of promotion anyone can hope to earn.
So the next time I step out the door, I want to ask myself again: What will I do today to deserve being called “Sir”? Because if I can make today about others — if I can leave even one person or idea stronger than I found it — then maybe, just maybe, I’ve earned that title for one more day.
Photo by Nolan Issac on Unsplash
