Opportunity and Choices

For those of you who believe you can change the world and think you are of historic potential, may the wind be at your back! Just remember, armed with all your genius, talent, beauty, and brawn, you will only get so far without the secret sauce of opportunity. Rarest of the three elements, the probability for opportunity can be optimized. It should also motivate us to reflect upon the values we hold, the examples we set, and how we choose to live our lives.

First, figure out in your own life where your unique talents overlap your passions and then commit to long, hard work to be the very best in this sliver of the universe. Beware: This will require forgoing other important parts of your life so that you can devote innumerable hours to the pursuit of excellence. Historic people often sacrifice a lot to be historic. They have been imprisoned, tortured, assassinated, impoverished, and mentally and physically unwell, among other challenges. However, great accomplishment often requires great sacrifice. If you desire graphic illustration of this, spend a weekend watching Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, etc. The glory of heroism frequently extracts a high cost. It’s costly, tedious, and uncertain, but if you want to reach the pinnacle, this intensity is generally required.

Second, grow your network of people both within your area of expertise and in areas directly adjacent to it. In doing this, be sincere, not a suck-up. Genuinely appreciate the company of these others and enjoy your shared interests on their own merits. At the end of the day, being a good person still matters, and over the long haul, it is a substantial asset to you and those with whom you associate. Uncommon opportunities frequently present themselves through these personal relationships. Since you will seldom accurately predict which single relationship will result in your special opportunity, nurturing a wide array of connections increases your odds.

Last but most important, if your opportunity to make history fails to materialize, remember that misery loves company and that you are in the company of 99.9 percent of all people! However, if you correctly identified an area in which you excel, worked diligently to be your best at it, and forged friendships with others who share your passion, you will have done well. If you step back from your ambitions to reflect on your journey, you may just find that, while books may not be written about you, you have nonetheless enjoyed a life worth living and positively impacted the lives of many others along the way.