“It’s rarely about the money. Most people sell their soul for nothing more than not having a stranger get mad at them.” – Isaac M. Morehouse
If you’re not ready to have any villains in your life, you’re not ready to do heroic stuff in anyone else’s life.
If you’re not ready to have some haters, you’re not ready to be a creator.
If you’re not ready to let anyone down, you’re not ready to lift anyone up.
If you’re not ready to be called an idiot by “the other side”, you’re not ready to be an inspiration to the people on your side.
If you’re not ready to seen as a loser by some, you’re not ready to be a leader for anyone.
If you’re not ready to annoy the world, you’re not ready to alter the world.
The only way to become a saint is by giving up your need to become a saint.
Seeking sainthood is a trap. The moment you become obsessed with being seen as a noble or heroic person, you become a slave to the unyielding demands of a whimsical world. Your need to be loved, liked, or lauded will reduce you to being a puppet pulled by the strings of anyone who happens to not be in the mood for your mission or message. If you need to be canonized or crowned, you’re guaranteed to become somebody’s clown.
Changing the world for good requires power. And if you want to maintain your personal power, you have to refuse to put it in the hands of other people’s approval. Forget about making someone else’s hall of fame and focus your energy on changing the game. Forget about getting a standing ovation and focus your efforts on spreading innovation. You don’t need anybody to give you a celebratory speech. Let your work speak for itself. Let it reverberate across the hearts and minds that are transformed by your relentless devotion to irrefutable results.
Crowds will fickle and fade, but the fruits of your labor will never spoil if you remain faithful to principles.
You can’t win the hearts of everyone, but you can positively influence someone from every generation if you commit yourself to the work rather than the glory.
That’s how you make a difference. That’s how you create a legacy that lasts.
