When I am asked what I wish to do with my life - what I would like to do in my future - I respond with a seemingly (and unfortunately) unusual answer. While I do not know what I exactly want to do, I know that I want the impact of whatever I choose to do to leave a lasting, global, and most importantly positive impact on the world. This response often receives strange looks and concerned responses voicing doubt about any possible success. I was confronted recently about my lack of sense of "reality" and immature belief that an individual or group of individuals can truly enact major change in the world.
To me, this is clearly concerning. It is the major reason why there has not been meaningful reform, and why there will not be. Simply accepting the current state of the situation, the difficulty and improbability that change will come determines that it will not.
Apple Computers launched an ad campaign when Steven Jobs returned to the company as CEO. The words envelop the entire argument that can make for changing the world. I personally cannot do the work as much justice as it deserves. Here, is the entirety of their commercial:
"Here's To The Crazy Ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world - are the ones who do."
The constant debate which I have found myself having, both with myself and others is truly what it takes to change the world. Some argue hard work, diligence, and luck. But I have found this model to be flawed. In our language, we have many expressions to represent how our actions impact our own life:
What goes around, comes around; GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out), You get what you give, etc.
The sayings are endless. Nevertheless, it does hit upon what I have observed to be a universal constant, that our opportunities and successes can be directly attributed to what we previously did - how we worked - to achieve it. Using this simple principle, I realize that hard work only opens opportunity to do more hard work, more and more tiring and taxing work. Additionally I never have liked the idea of passively attributing (or relying on) the idea of "luck" for any successes.
This, surely, is not how I am to amend the world. In every man that has ever changed the world I have noticed two very distinct character qualities. Ambition and passion. They believe that they do in fact have the ability to make a difference - and thus they are not limited by their own mental road block from enacting the probable changes they wish for the world. Most importantly, they love what they do. Every bit of work does not feel like work, but small instances of joy - a puzzle if you will, ready to solve and overwhelmingly exciting and beautiful when finally put together.
Combined, these fuel one's initiatives. And hence I argue that it is not hard work, although that is a factor, but truly initiative, confidence, and love that changes the world. Because if you love something, if you are truly consumed by a burning passion to do something, there will be nothing preventing you from accomplishing it. Failure will be less of an obstacle - and you can rebound from every failure stronger than before until you hit success. Passion can change hard work and tiring days to joy-filled, soul-building, satisfying days of creation.
I find it disheartening that society discourages people from aspiring to levels of greatness - we ensure that no one will become great. If our society is to leave a truly lasting impact it would be encouraging all people to know that they themselves can make a difference. Support and self-confidence are essential to meaningful reform.
But no - we have silence. Our society silences those who have the ability to make a difference. Students and children everywhere being told they can't - or even more subtly, to mature, to grow up. Is this the reality that we're painting for future generations? Can-do is always and will always be more powerful than cannot. But we are killing off all can-do spirit.
If all we do is reverse the negative view that somehow huge aspirations are puerile and need to themselves be reformed, then we will open the door for hundreds and millions of future individuals to make the change in the world that we wish to see today.
Passion, ambition, initiative, hope, and love - qualities which every person is capable of. We replace these with "reality", doubt, acceptance, and conformity.
"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead
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