Week 94 - "Stay hungry, stay foolish" – Steve Jobs
I'm not a fan of motivational content, but this idea has been stuck in my head lately
Being delusional is a superpower.
In a world where reality is so unflattering for so many, those who can remain delusional about what the future can be, more importantly, what they can be, are the real superheroes.
I used to always think that if someone else could do something, I could too. No matter how insane it might seem, I was convinced that given enough time and work, I could get to their position or at least close.
But somewhere along the way, I lost that belief.
Maybe I just gave up early, or reality just hit too hard, but at some point, I went from an “I can” mentality to one of hesitation and doubt.
I think part of it came from me realizing I had to acknowledge the things people had to sacrifice to get to the place they were at. Once I began to accept those as mandatory costs for an outcome, I became more “realistic” about what I could do.
Yet, when I meet people who seem to lack that acknowledgment, I can’t help but wish I was more like them. That I was as “delusional” as them.
Something about their unwavering belief in themselves was so unique, I couldn’t help but be amazed.
I understand that at some point I may have to pay an opportunity cost for the things I want to accomplish. But why is that important right now?
If I haven’t even done “the thing”, why am I more worried about what I’ll have to give up for it, instead of the task itself?
“A delusion is something people believe in despite a total lack of evidence.” - Richard Dawkins
If we’re talking about the future, there’s no way to have evidence of what can or can’t be done. You just do your best and see what happens.
And if you seriously try your best, — really do everything you can to make something happen, always picking yourself back up and repeatedly throwing yourself into your endeavor, do you really think you can fail?
Everyone who’s ever done something bigger than themselves started out delusional, but they were never worried about what they’d have to give up for success. They were too focused on actually doing the thing.
There’s a lesson in that.
I hate to sound like every motivational video ever, but this really is something I feel more people, especially myself, need to hear.
We dream so much as children with a limitless aspiration for what’s possible. Then somewhere along the path to adulthood, we conform to what we see others doing and believe that’s where it stops.
So be more delusional.
Let the baseline for your expectations be what is possible, and I can promise you that your capacity for greatness will far exceed the limits of what you once thought was reasonable.
Stay hard