In 1999 , the hottest phone company on the market was Nokia . They were dominating the fast-moving industry of mobile phones , and there was no one in sight who would knock them off their pedestal . They were clearly the envy of all phone providers . One of their phones gained such popularity that it was featured in The Matrix — the biggest sci-fi futuristic movie of the spring of 1999 . The heroes of the movie were seen whipping out a Nokia 7110 with the spring action slider that popped open for dramatic effect .
The millions of moviegoers who saw this hit film wondered when the phone would be available in stores . It boasted being the smallest and lightest phone on the market . It was an easy choice for the directors to feature in this movie , as Nokia was by far the most popular phone provider . They dominated this space from 1998 to 2012 and reported , at one time , an annual revenue of thirty billion dollars .
During the years of Nokia ’ s dominance , there was another company known as Apple that came into the market . On June 29 , 2007 , Apple introduced the iPhone . When this happened , Nokia had a 47 percent market share . It was unfazed by Apple and criticized the iPhone , saying that the battery was rubbish . They genuinely believed that they would remain at the top . This pride was the beginning of Nokia ’ s downward spiral that moved them from 47 percent to 16.1 percent of the market share as of June 2019 .
Pride led the way for a company like Nokia to lose its cutting edge , and it can be the downfall of so many areas of our lives as well . It was Solomon who said , “ Pride goes before destruction ”
( Prov . 16:18 ). It can show up in our businesses , relationships , marriages , or finances — there is almost no area pride can ’ t reach . It has the potential to be the cause of divorce , the reason for bankruptcy , or the source of tarnishing our character . It is subtle in its approach , but over time pride can consume who we are and turn us into a version of ourselves that we once said we would never become .
Pride can consume who we are and turn us into a version of ourselves that we once said we would never become .
Pride has the ability to keep you from doing or being the person you once desired to be . It also has the ability to cause you to do or feel things that deep inside you know are wrong .
Pride keeps you from :
• celebrating other people ’ s successes
• initiating an apology when you know you are wrong
• having genuine relationships with other people
• changing your mind during an argument , even if you know you are wrong
• admitting loss
• admitting weakness
• admitting you need help
• being honest with yourself
• being honest with others
• learning new things in an attempt to appear like you know everything
Pride causes you to :
• feel good when others fail
• power up when you should be opening up
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