One of the great paradoxes of life is that being "normal"
or "reasonable" often means settling for ordinary results,
while success requires that we step outside our normal
boundaries, be different and, often, uncomfortable. Highly
successful people are, by definition, not average people!
All of us have been pressured to conform at one time or
another. We've been told to "sit still" in school, to "stop
interrupting" or "not make a scene." We've been criticized
for dressing, speaking, acting or thinking (or being)
"different." The subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to
accept conventional norms are powerful. "To get along, you
have to go along."
Well. Madame Currie, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller,
Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Oprah Winfrey are
not admired because they were "average" people! Thomas
Jefferson, Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, Franklin
Roosevelt and Bill Gates were not "conventional" people.
Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as the greatest American
president, yet the thing he was most known for among his
friends was his obnoxious refusal to quit running for
office, even after he lost thirty-two elections! That is
not normal!
One of the things that has made America great is our love
of individuality. We have always loved and admired our "mad
inventors." The Wright brothers thought they could fly!
Henry Ford thought he could put a car in every garage. Ben
Franklin flew a kite in a thunder storm (didn't his mother
tell him to come in out of the rain?). Mary Kay thought she
could make a living selling make-up, while Mrs. Field tried
to support her family selling cookies! That's just nuts!
Now, we need to tell the truth here. A lot of crazy ideas
really are…crazy. We've all had brilliant ideas in the
middle of the night, only to find that in the clear light
of day they weren't worth pursuing. I've made many fortunes
while taking my shower, only to find them going down the
drain when I tried to tell my partners about them. Just
because an idea is weird doesn't mean it's wonderful.
But many great ideas (and the fortunes) have been lost
because the genius who thought it up was shy. Or lacked
courage. Or was intimidated by someone's comment that, "You
can't do that!"
All great ideas were crazy before they were brilliant.
Alexander Bell thought he could talk over copper wires, and
even worse, Marconi thought he could send messages through
thin air! When David Sarnoff wanted to launch the first
radio network (now NBC), one investor ridiculed him by
asking, "Who would pay to send a message to no one in
particular?" Jules Verne thought people might one day
travel under the ocean or, even more ridiculous, fly in
outer space. How crazy was that!?
If you can read this, you are a genius. You have had
thousands of wonderful, creative, brilliant ideas—most of
which you've never pursued, and that's a shame.
Success is not achieved by being "ordinary." It is achieved
by following your own path and trusting your own instincts.
One of my heroes, Henry Thoreau, recommended "marching to
beat of your own drummer."
No two people have the same DNA or the same fingerprints.
No two lovers do "it" quite the same way. No two parents
(not even spouses) raise their children quite the same way.
Seabiscuit was too small and ungainly to be a champion, but
lives in history as one of the great race horses of all
time.
To achieve your unique version of success, follow your
heart. Yes, you'll want to learn from others, have a great
strategy and superb execution. Yes, you'll want to obey the
law and regulations, and you'll need a great team. But
primarily, you become great by being exactly, and uniquely
yourself. This is a call for more eccentrics, more
individuals, more creative, shameless adventurers. Go where
your heart and your instincts lead. Follow your dream.
Instead of following the "normal" highway, blaze a new path
and leave a trail for others to follow.
or "reasonable" often means settling for ordinary results,
while success requires that we step outside our normal
boundaries, be different and, often, uncomfortable. Highly
successful people are, by definition, not average people!
All of us have been pressured to conform at one time or
another. We've been told to "sit still" in school, to "stop
interrupting" or "not make a scene." We've been criticized
for dressing, speaking, acting or thinking (or being)
"different." The subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to
accept conventional norms are powerful. "To get along, you
have to go along."
Well. Madame Currie, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller,
Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Oprah Winfrey are
not admired because they were "average" people! Thomas
Jefferson, Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, Franklin
Roosevelt and Bill Gates were not "conventional" people.
Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as the greatest American
president, yet the thing he was most known for among his
friends was his obnoxious refusal to quit running for
office, even after he lost thirty-two elections! That is
not normal!
One of the things that has made America great is our love
of individuality. We have always loved and admired our "mad
inventors." The Wright brothers thought they could fly!
Henry Ford thought he could put a car in every garage. Ben
Franklin flew a kite in a thunder storm (didn't his mother
tell him to come in out of the rain?). Mary Kay thought she
could make a living selling make-up, while Mrs. Field tried
to support her family selling cookies! That's just nuts!
Now, we need to tell the truth here. A lot of crazy ideas
really are…crazy. We've all had brilliant ideas in the
middle of the night, only to find that in the clear light
of day they weren't worth pursuing. I've made many fortunes
while taking my shower, only to find them going down the
drain when I tried to tell my partners about them. Just
because an idea is weird doesn't mean it's wonderful.
But many great ideas (and the fortunes) have been lost
because the genius who thought it up was shy. Or lacked
courage. Or was intimidated by someone's comment that, "You
can't do that!"
All great ideas were crazy before they were brilliant.
Alexander Bell thought he could talk over copper wires, and
even worse, Marconi thought he could send messages through
thin air! When David Sarnoff wanted to launch the first
radio network (now NBC), one investor ridiculed him by
asking, "Who would pay to send a message to no one in
particular?" Jules Verne thought people might one day
travel under the ocean or, even more ridiculous, fly in
outer space. How crazy was that!?
If you can read this, you are a genius. You have had
thousands of wonderful, creative, brilliant ideas—most of
which you've never pursued, and that's a shame.
Success is not achieved by being "ordinary." It is achieved
by following your own path and trusting your own instincts.
One of my heroes, Henry Thoreau, recommended "marching to
beat of your own drummer."
No two people have the same DNA or the same fingerprints.
No two lovers do "it" quite the same way. No two parents
(not even spouses) raise their children quite the same way.
Seabiscuit was too small and ungainly to be a champion, but
lives in history as one of the great race horses of all
time.
To achieve your unique version of success, follow your
heart. Yes, you'll want to learn from others, have a great
strategy and superb execution. Yes, you'll want to obey the
law and regulations, and you'll need a great team. But
primarily, you become great by being exactly, and uniquely
yourself. This is a call for more eccentrics, more
individuals, more creative, shameless adventurers. Go where
your heart and your instincts lead. Follow your dream.
Instead of following the "normal" highway, blaze a new path
and leave a trail for others to follow.
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