Twists in the Pursuit of Greatness

Recently, through an unbelievable bit of fate, I spent three days at an educational/creative conference called Food For Thought. To say is was a game changer is a gross understatement. I had the most indescribable experience and met some incredible people. Listening to the various speakers (i.e. Mayor Cory Booker, founder of Geek Squad Robert Stephens and Chef Wylie Dufresne) made me realize things that I hadn't been brave enough to think about before. Greatness takes courage.

As I was listening to everyone around me I started to feel inspired. Inspired in a way I haven't been in a very long time. It was refreshing to hear that people whom I have admired struggle(d) with their destinies. It was refreshing to hear that there were moments where they wanted to be ordinary. It was refreshing to hear that a belief in one's greatness is not arrogance but knowledge of truth.

What was more bizarre is that my story was often a parallel to those who were speaking. In fact, Francesca (one of the attendees) told me that she couldn't stop thinking about my story which, was revealed at dinner the first night. She told me to soak it in and use this as a springboard for my future. I've been lucky to have a lot of people in my life believe in me. What's made me especially grateful for this past week is the fact that now I have met virtual strangers who believe in me.

I've often been called arrogant, pretentious and stuck-up. Once people get to know me, they usually renege those sentiments but I think I now understand why people initially feel that way about me. I know I am destined for greatness. Not necessarily fame or fortune as those are not the defining principles of greatness. The problem of saying out loud that I believe that I will do great things is it comes off as arrogance. If I had already achieved what I believe I will, no one would call that arrogant. They would ask for advice/guidance/etc.

So many things are put in place to make people fear living up to or surpassing their potential. Society for one. Competitors for another. Well, after FFT I've decided to put on the blinders and go full speed ahead. A simple piece of advice that might be a little hard to follow sometimes but being ordinary just isn't an option. No matter how much I might want to be from time to time.