On Achievement

The Pyramids

“For a man to achieve all that is demanded of him he must regard himself as greater than he is.” Van Goethe

The names that are inscribed in history books, and who’s teachings and legacies are religiously celebrated and tirelessly echoed by school teachers, professors, parents, and students are remarkable and exceptional people. But the significance of their accomplishments depends heavily on the historical and cultural context they were in.

They might have had a certain amount of delusion and overconfidence. In addition to politicians, the greatest entrepreneurs of our time like Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk or Steve Jobs must have believed that they can change the world too – before they did.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry Truman

What they must have shared was the ability to think outside of their selves. They had to be believe in a vision that transcended their personal needs. To value the future over the present, and to value achievement over pleasure, quality over quantity.

“Gradually I learned to be indifferent to myself and my deficiencies; I came to center my attention increasingly upon external objects: the state of the world, various branches of knowledge, individuals for whom I felt affection.” – Bertrand Russell“People forget how fast you did a job – but they remember how well you did it.” – Howard W.Newton

But men who change the world first needed to learn how to change themselves, and how to be confident when doing so.

“If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way.” – Napoleon Hill“Act brave. The world steps aside for the man who knows where he’s going.” – D.S Jordan“Whether you think you can, or you can’t—either way you are right.” – Henry Ford

Most importantly, don’t let other people dictate how you live your live. If you do, it’s because you value your own ego too much. You are obsessed with getting a pat on the back, when you should be obsessed with doing something you really care about.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs“Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called ‘Ego’.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

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Related posts:

1. Chapter 1: Desire (Think and Grow Rich)
2. How Not to Win Friends and Influence People
3. The Ego Death