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 typical, 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 his friends talked about was his
nutty 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 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 planned 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…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 ideas--most of which you've never
pursued, and that's a shame.
Success is not achieved by being "ordinary." It is usually
achieved by being "different," 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 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. Yes, you'll
want to obey the applicable laws and 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 "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 typical, 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 his friends talked about was his
nutty 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 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 planned 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…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 ideas--most of which you've never
pursued, and that's a shame.
Success is not achieved by being "ordinary." It is usually
achieved by being "different," 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 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. Yes, you'll
want to obey the applicable laws and 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 "normal" highway, blaze a
new path and leave a trail for others to follow.
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