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Secrets of greatness
Greatness must surely be in the mind of the beholder. So I am going to share with you my vision of greatness. Firstly, let me fundamentally remove the modern and generally accepted epitome of greatness…wealth. I abhor the media’s description of a person “the millionaire horse breeder”, “the millionaire publisher”, “she married the millionaire tidily wink maker.” We are conditioned to believe that greatness lies within our bank account or earnings; well what a load of rubbish.
Let me ask you, how do you want to be judged? And don’t say as a millionaire!!!!!!!! I was taught years ago that money comes as a by product of services rendered. The cynical reader will immediately refute that statement by saying “well what about the lottery winner, the gambler or the drug trafficker. Yes, of course there is an exception to every rule but don’t base your life on the exceptions. Go with the normal distribution curve of 95%. Let the cynic expound about the 5%. The cynic is unlikely to achieve greatness anyhow. Isn’t it interesting that no monument has ever been erected to a critic. Monuments seem to be erected to those who have been criticised.
Are there really secrets of greatness or should we just accept the common sense behavioural characteristics that achieve greatness. In order to achieve anything one has firstly to define exactly what greatness is. For some people it may be “I want to be happy”. Okay what will make you happy? Some might say “loadsa money”. Well how much money? Others might say “I want to be the best.” Well what is the best? Yet another might say “I want to be successful.” So what is successful in your mind?
Let’s be realistic. There are very few people who achieve the status of greatness be it in any sphere – as a composer, painter, musician, surgeon, singer, lawyer or business person. Many of those who have that tag have been born with the genes and as yet we are unable to influence this phenomenon of nature. Fascinatingly it appears that virtually every person dead or alive with the greatness tag have some human characteristic defects. Many have paid an enormous price of self-sacrifice or have had emotional problems. I truly believe that in any generation the greatness status will be achieved by the few overcoming all obstacles.
To me greatness has no secrets. It is a combination of genes, self-sacrifice and a passionate commitment to the individual’s incredible gifted talent. We can all learn from the greats as horizons are lowered, barriers broken through, and the impossible becomes the possible. This is of course the history of human endeavour. For all of us mere mortals surely it is more important for us to strive for successas that is definitely within our control. Success again is in the mind of the beholder. What is success for you? How will you know when you have achieved it? What are you doing NOW towards achieving your goal? These are great questions to continually ask yourself. Just remember success is highly possible for you.
