Heroes amongst us.

This post is a salute to those who strive to become great. (e.g. A great lady from Section B, who ran an NGO in Hyderabad or my NetImpact club president who made his career helping people see, again). And a wakeup call for others. (like me)

In our own limited ways, we all strive for greatness. Whether by becoming the Sports Club president..Or by giving the most insightful CPs in class.. Or by being the most active party bopper in campus...

Underlying all types of personalities is a desire for being the best. Being different. Being somebody, who others almost feel jealous of.

Everybody starts from the same page. Over the course of a "lifetime", the spirit craving for this greatness grows old and feeble. For some, this ageing process of the spirit is faster.. Their spirit dies even when they are young..in body.. Others grow old in body.. But somehow never cease to amaze others by their spirit.

Lesser mortals like us, recognize the former types as "mediocre"s. The ones who are just like any other Tom, Dick or Harry. It turns out that these mediocre types are actually the happiest. They give up on themselves. Concede defeat. And cease to strive for that one something that will make them different from the one billion souls sharing the planet. Their lives revolve around the petty issues in life. They quarrel, love, lust, envy, become slaves to selfish pleasures.. But they remain happy. Till the time the Grim Reaper arrives. Then they realize that their time was actually a limited resource. And they delivered such a low ROI. By the way, I havent come across any mediocre type in ISB so far.. (not sure about myself though). But then, when I use people like Narayan Murty, Vikram Akula as reference points, then I have second thoughts..

Think again. What makes you great. Is there something in you that will outlive you? Trust me, nobody remembers the investment banker who left a million dollars in his bank account to his third wife.. How miserable can that be. Is'nt it?

Does that mean, everybody should turn to nonprofits and become monks? Does not make sense, Right.. But I think (under heavy influence of readings of Stephen Covey), that everyone should imagine the one achievement that he wants to be remembered by.. when he is gone.. Surely there must be something that he desires to do. That makes him not like every other Tom, Dick and Harry. Chances are high, that most people will identify something that is noble. Very few will like to be remembered for their material exploits (like the promotions, academics, financial success etc).

Once there is a goal, it all becomes simple. Without a goal, everything is pointless. So before you drown in the constant excesses of fast corporate life, take a few moments. Figure out what the hell you want, in the longer run.

I would hate to end up as the mediocre guy next door. Wouldn't you?

cheers,
C