The Shoes Over My Door

Over the door of my home office, there’s a photograph of a pair of shoes.

Not the bright red leather shoes traditionally worn by popes, hand-crafted by Rome's finest cobblers. Not the ceremonial footwear that had become a symbol of papal authority.

Just plain black shoes.

They belonged to Pope Francis. When he became pope, he chose to keep wearing the same shoes he’d always worn. He eschewed the flashy symbolism of the role in favor of something quieter, humbler, and more grounded.

I keep that photo over the doorway to my office so I’ll see it every time I walk out the door.

Not because I’ve mastered that kind of humility, but because I haven’t and never will.

It’s aspirational. A check on my ego. A reminder that genuine influence doesn’t come from titles or status, and certainly not red shoes. It doesn’t come by trying to appear important.

It comes from how you walk. How you show up. How you live when no one’s watching.

Pope Francis didn't lead with flash. He led with depth. With presence. With consistency. His power came not from performance, but from something quieter and harder: putting others before himself, even and especially those on the margins who often had no one else to speak for them.

That photo calls me back to the kind of leader I still hope to be.

Reading the countless tributes to Pope Francis, I'm struck by how far I have to go. And yet, on my better days, maybe I embody a fraction of that humility.

Now more than ever, I'm grateful for the quiet example those simple black shoes represent: a daily reminder of the humility I constantly strive toward.

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Are you frustrated by your pricing? Need help articulating your value? Do you need a better way to identify and close your best-fit clients? Do you want to restore the joy you used to have for your business? I may be able to help you.

I’m John Ray, a business consultant and coach, author, and podcaster. I advise solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their two most frustrating problems: pricing and business development. I’m passionate about how changes in mindset, positioning, and pricing change the trajectory of a business and the lifestyle choices of its owners. My clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners. Click here to learn more or contact me directly.

I’m the author of the national bestseller, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices. The book covers topics like value and adopting a mindset of value, pricing your services more effectively, proposals, and essential elements of growing your business. The book is available at all major physical and online book retailers.