We all have our Idols
Here’s what I learned from mine: They’re just like me and you. But they focus their creativity.
And sometimes, when we meet our idols, it evolves our perspective. 8 years ago, I had the chance to relish an Iron maiden concert. 6 years ago, I met Carl Deitrich, the inventor of Terafugia’s flying cars. 3 years ago I had lunch with the CEO of Morgan Stanley and the week after that, I had lunch with the CEO of Goldman Sachs. Tonight, I danced the night away at the concert of Armin Van Buuren. These people, from music geniuses to business titans taught three things.
- These guys are all just normal people. All of them, same old insecurities and same old aspiration— to matter in this huge world of ours.
2. They had no idea things could be this big. That they would make it. They just tried to make the best of each situation. Most of them didn’t imagine the heights they would reach, till they were close to the helm already.
3. I learned was that none of them was ever prepared for the responsibility. Not one. They just had to learn on the fly.
Bill gates frequently says that “we overestimate what we can do in one year, but we underestimate what we can do in ten years.” He’s right. the future isn’t in our hands, but it isn’t in any one else’s hands either.
As I type this surrounded by the mega speakers setup by Armin, I’m reminded that the people that have fame and fortune are just like any of us, same fallibilities like Jeff Bezos, same Hubris like Zuckerberg, same Hunger like Shahrukh Khan, same aspiration and ethic, like me- to matter and to make things better.
The difference is simply in those moments where we choose to invest in “10 years out”, rather than “I need this for today.” The Choice.. is honestly ours.
We all have our idols, the only difference is that they kept up with the struggle, and kept reaching higher, no matter the heights they reached.
Remember this, you can be an idol too. For some people, you probably already are.
Choose a direction. Let your creative juices flow. Keep striving.
