Back in late 2008, while working at a retail company where I’d started two years earlier, I was told I’d been promoted to HR Administration Manager.

The news definitely sparked excitement in me, my family, and my friends. I still remember the joyful call and the words from a good college buddy: “You’re the first one in our group to reach that level!”

A few weeks ago, for family reasons, I called a friend I worked with many years ago—he was an intern, and I was his boss at a car import company.

Today he’s an HR manager at a financial institution, and he answered with the same humility and warmth he had over 25 years ago.

He reminded me of two things he says I taught him, which he still applies in both his personal life and career. I have to confess I didn’t even remember saying them—much less living them—but they were these two big lessons: greet everyone without exception, and it doesn’t matter if you’re poor as long as you’re honest.

A few days ago, I watched part of a podcast by a former executive from a multinational company. He talked about “the myth of the job title in companies” and how most of us bought into it, when what really matters is what people will remember about you as a human being.

For sure, your former coworkers aren’t going to remember you because you were great with numbers, killer at Excel, a shark in sales, or because of the car you drove, etc.

Drawing from these two stories, here are some simple but memorable lessons and questions I’d like to share:

• Job titles and people come and go in every organization without exception.
• Don’t get dizzy with the title or the power—they’re both temporary.
• You don’t need a flashy title to leave a positive mark on those around you.
• Give or contribute more than you receive, and turn it into a virtuous cycle.
• Are you a light, an example worth following?
• What will the people you work (or worked) with remember about you—and why?
• If you ran into a former colleague or team member tomorrow, would they approach you or try to avoid you?

Dear reader, I invite you to reflect—and above all, to take action and make a firm decision—starting from these two quotes:

• “He who is not a good servant will not be a good master.” — Plato
• “The ignorant assert, the wise doubt and reflect.” — Aristotle

Keep going—there’s still time for both you and me to change. Oh, and don’t forget: Row, row without faltering, hard against the current and out to sea!