“The world needs more Canadas.  I think you’re too modest – which is a word I don’t use too much.”

And with those words Bono began his recent mission on Parliament Hill.

Bono?  Really?

Yes indeed.  Bono, known globally for being the rock star front-man for the musical phenomenon known as U2, is also recognized around the world for his philanthropic work.

“I want to thank Canada for its generosity, particularly to vulnerable women and children,” he said. “I’m the person who’s always asking for more, but I think it’s important right now to say thank you for what you are doing.”

Bono has invested vast amounts of time, talent and treasure in numerous charitable endeavors designed to eradicate such global issues as poverty, hunger, and homelessness, amongst dozens of others.  And, he is most recently speaking up about governments’ commitments toward improving maternal and children’s health in the developing world.

Here are a few statistics on Bono and U2:

U2 was formed in 1976 and since that time has produced 13 studio albums and sold more than 170 million albums world-wide.  They have won 22 Grammy awards – more than any other band in history.  They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.  Rolling Stone Magazine has ranked them as #22 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, and proclaimed them the “Biggest Band in The World”.

Their 360 Degree Tour was the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour ever.  The tour grossed approximately three quarters of a billion dollars.  Over the course of 5 decades U2 has built and maintained its predominance as true global rock and roll super stars.  The undisputed leader and front-man of the band is Bono – a living legend in many respects.

In the book, Bono in Conversation with Michka Assayas, Michka asks Bono dozens of questions to create a very frank, honest and vulnerable interview with the man himself.  The book provides compelling insights into the humanity of this larger than life character.  At a certain point in the interview he asks Bono a simple question: “What’s it like being a rock star?”

Bono’s answer shocked me.  In fact, his answer was one of the most endearing components of the book for me.  He basically said,

“I’m not a rock star.  I am a salesman.  I come from a long line of Irish salesman.  I simply sell melodies and a lot of people seem to like them.”

Think about that for a minute.  A man who is a living rock and roll legend – widely considered one of the greatest of all time – doesn’t see himself as a rock star.  His opinion of himself is not inflated.  He doesn’t seem to believe his own media.  He stays grounded with his roots and with the simple essence of what and who he is.  I think this is one of the reasons his celebrity has not destroyed him.

In a word: “humility”.  Don’t let it all go to your head.  Don’t go thinking more of yourself than you ought to.  Bono stays grounded with the simple perception that he is like many of the men in his family who went before him, “I’m an Irish salesman.”  He is building on their legacy.

So what’s the lesson for us?

Well, what kind of success have you experienced?  I don’t care how amazing you are, you have probably not experienced success on the scale of Bono.  Yet his example to us is one of humility.  Keep it simple, keep it real, keep it in perspective.

Anytime we experience some success we can be tempted to begin to think we are a “rock star” – others may even refer to you as such.  However, the mark of a true leader; the mark of one who has the stature of greatness; is seeing yourself through a more grounded lens – through the lens of humility.

Humility will keep you grounded.  Humility will enable you to see that your success is only possible because of the contribution of others, and particularly those who have gone before you.  Humility is a critical component of true success.

So what are you: rock star or salesman?