What’s stopping the next Elon Musk? — Complacency
Trying to fit in only maximizes mediocrity. If you want to fit in, you have to be like everyone else. In other words, you have to be average.
Many of us try so hard to fit in, that we let it dictate our lives. But at the same time…we have aspirations to be the top; to develop an impactful product; to contribute something extraordinary to the research field of science. We have visions but our unconscious desire to fit in is stopping us to achieve our potential.
We know what we want. Or at least, we know what we don’t want. We don’t want to be couch potatoes the rest of our lives, work away for a boss that doesn’t care, be a bad parent, step on Lego… you list it. The dilemma is a matter of: how do we get the things we want?
It’s as if we have a gem and a rock in front of us. Which one do you choose?
For the sake of the analogy, I’m telling you the gem is more valuable (not just in terms of $, but anything you associate worth with).
Assume that both items are as easy to get. Easy. You’d go straight for the gem.
But now, let’s say it’s easier to get the rock.
The instructions to go from here to the rock are easy and straightforward. Plus, many others have walked down the rock path and succeeded. Whereas, if you were to try to go for the gem… oh boy… how do you even do that?! You’d be the first pioneer at an attempt.
Would you still go for it? How badly do you want that gem?
This is the dilemma between conventional paths V.S unconventional.
The rock and the gem are goals you set for yourself. Getting a rock means you have a conventional job, working for someone else; settling down; get a family; buy that new car. Doing whatever is cool at the time. Being average.
Whereas the goals a gem can look like:
- Launching the first successful reusable rocket. (Elon Musk)
- Kickstarting research to reduce the effects of aging (Laura Deming)
- Developing a multi-billionaire business that impacts billions (i.e. Facebook or Google)
- Starting a whole new artistic era. (Picasso and his Cubist movement)
We need more gem-seekers. We need more pro-active thinkers that push for progress. We need people that think differently rather than following a corporate rule book. In our status quo, people are complacent, and that stops us from growing overall. We need rule-breakers.
It’s up to you which goal you dare to aim at. No judgment for people that want to go for rocks! I understand and respect that.
Sidenote: It would be ignorant not to note that some people are more privileged than others to reach a goal/ priorities. A child in a warzone can dream to be the next Bill Gates, but the chances that they would have the resources and priority are slim. I’m extremely privileged to try and figure out what I want in life- compared to the life of my immigrant parents.
But wait. We run into a faulty error…In life, we aren’t so good at identifying what is a rock and what’s a gem. We often trick ourselves to think the rock is more valuable than it is. Many haven’t even come to the realization that they have the potential to get the gem. Many haven’t realized all the fake ‘hype’ associated with the rock.
We are prone to indulging in the opinions of others; caring WAY TOO much to the point it dictates our life… and we don’t even realize it. Furthermore, sometimes the opinions of others don’t make sense either (pack mentality and echo chamber effect).
- If I buy that car, I will be happy.
- If I get a good grade, my parents would be proud, and I would be happy.
If I did xyz, I would be happy. We subscribe to simplistic ideas like these, and they are further amplified in an echo chamber.
Simplistic ideas also apply to expectations and stereotypes. Our whole life, we are given expectations of what to be; what to do. Stereotypes limit us to a box:
- Girls are the caregivers of the family.
- Men should be assertive.
- Women aren’t good with money.
We are taught to do ways in a very specific way. We believe what’s told of us. We think the status quo is okay as it is. To a lot of students in school, their future looks like:
Graduate high school → family → stable job
It’s linear. School is preparing us to do well at a job… but rather less about how to solve some of the biggest problems in the world.
We also have our own insecurities that stop us from taking risks.
There are so many things stopping us from reaching our full potential: lack of self-agency, not realizing our potential, our parents, our school culture, and basically society as a whole.
It’s so easy to fall into a rabbit hole of complacency; of not taking risks; of not trying to constantly improve. When there’s low risk, there is a low reward.
Realizing our potential
We can do so much more than we are operating right now. We literally have the toolbox to at least try:
- education
- access to the internet, access to information
- clean water; shelter; clothing
- network (i.e social media)
Our privilege implies that we have an obligation to help the vulnerable.
With great responsibility comes great power- Peter Parker
Understanding this very important Peter Parker quote… allows us to view success through a different lens. We aren’t only fulfilling our own visions when we work on our passion projects, but we are doing the vulnerable in our world justice. If we have the ability to help, why not? It’s our obligation.
If you saw a kid drowning. You are a lifeguard but it’s not your shift. Would you still help that kid? Of course.
If not you, then who?
If not now, then when?
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