Why Do You Aspire?
Our moms were right; we possess and must use our unique talent. A fulfilling life requires accomplishment – the ambition to do something meaningful supported by the activity leading to its fruition.
It goes beyond the biblically-inspired obligation declared in graduation speeches, “to whom much is given, much will be required.” Inaction coupled with an awareness of unfulfilled potential causes a corrosive malaise.
Accomplishment has a range of outcomes: acing an exam, ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, being elected to Congress (a dubious one?), or simply sacrificing time at work to play with your children at the park.
To What Do You Aspire?
Every endeavor serves a purpose; do not sell yourself short or unduly burden yourself.
Those who had the most significant impact on you, besides your parents, are likely not politicians or business tycoons. It was someone much closer and “smaller,” like your scoutmaster, aunt, or kindly neighbor.
A teacher can profoundly influence a child for a lifetime. However, if that second-grade teacher can develop a curriculum that benefits the entire school, state, or nation, she should provide it. We should have ambition for substantial growth and progress in whatever measure that means for us (for more on this subject, read this).
At the same time, saving the world is not your responsibility. Of the billions who have inhabited our planet, only one has, and He was half-human.1 Consider the advice of someone who started small and continued until she impacted the world. Mother Theresa said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”
Excuses?
You can rationalize but not justify inaction. For every preemptive explanation, you can make a more compelling case to justify action.
Too old? Colonel Sanders started frying chicken at 65. Grandma Moses picked up the paintbrush at 76. There is hope for me; Laura Ingalls Wilder and Frank McCourt published their first books after turning 60.
Under-resourced? There are innumerable success stories of penniless founders without access to capital who built successful businesses mostly on gumption and resourcefulness. You either have all you need or will receive it as you move toward your objective.
Limited by past failure? Are you always successful on your first attempt? Recall many of your sweetest victories came after and because of your defeats. You learned something from your opponent’s performance that you used to elevate your game.
How Will You Achieve It?
Martin Luther King famously said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper. He should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all hosts of heaven and earth pause to say; ‘Here lives a great sweeper who did his job well.'”
Whatever you do, do it exceptionally. I did not choose “best” to avoid the peril of perfectionism. Your grandparents probably told you some form of “if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.” You know in your heart when you are making a worthy effort. I could write a blog post in a few hours, but investing twice the time yields a better message and evidences respect for it and its recipients (you).
Is the size of your effort commensurate with the measure of your talent?
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When you wholeheartedly invest in purposeful activity, the right amount of accomplishment follows. Do not deny yourself or your beneficiaries.
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1Kind readers pointed out this statement is somewhat inaccurate; Jesus was wholly God and human, not 50/50.