One of the paradoxes of life is that being "reasonable"
often means settling for ordinary results, while success
usually requires us to step outside our normal routines, be
different and, sometimes, uncomfortable. Highly successful
people are, by definition, unusual people! To achieve
success, they've done something differently than everyone
else.
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 "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 stubborn 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, and capitalism
great, is our love of individuality. We have always 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 crazy!
Now, we need to tell the truth here. A lot of crazy ideas
really are pretty 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 see them go 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 a casual 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." Nor is it
achieved merely by being "different." Success is about
following your own path and having the courage to
intelligently pursue your dreams.
One of my heroes, Henry Thoreau, recommended "marching to
beat of your own drummer."
To achieve your unique version of success, follow your
heart. Yes, you'll want to learn from others. Yes, you'll
want to obey the law and applicable regulations, but aside
from those things, you become great by being exactly and
uniquely yourself. This is a call for more eccentrics, more
individuals, more creative, unrepentant adventurers. Go
where you heart and your instincts lead you. Follow your
dream. Instead of following the safe, "normal" highway,
blaze a new path and leave a trail for others to follow.
often means settling for ordinary results, while success
usually requires us to step outside our normal routines, be
different and, sometimes, uncomfortable. Highly successful
people are, by definition, unusual people! To achieve
success, they've done something differently than everyone
else.
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 "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 stubborn 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, and capitalism
great, is our love of individuality. We have always 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 crazy!
Now, we need to tell the truth here. A lot of crazy ideas
really are pretty 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 see them go 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 a casual 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." Nor is it
achieved merely by being "different." Success is about
following your own path and having the courage to
intelligently pursue your dreams.
One of my heroes, Henry Thoreau, recommended "marching to
beat of your own drummer."
To achieve your unique version of success, follow your
heart. Yes, you'll want to learn from others. Yes, you'll
want to obey the law and applicable regulations, but aside
from those things, you become great by being exactly and
uniquely yourself. This is a call for more eccentrics, more
individuals, more creative, unrepentant adventurers. Go
where you heart and your instincts lead you. Follow your
dream. Instead of following the safe, "normal" highway,
blaze a new path and leave a trail for others to follow.
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