Achieving True Greatness in the Face of Insignificance and Mortality

We are not infinite

We are not permanent

Nothing is immediate

And yet we pretend like we are immortal

We’re so comforted in our accomplishments

Look at our decadence

Today will soon be gone…

We've got information in the information age

But do we know what life is outside our convenient Tesla cages?

But life is still worth living, life is more than we are….

• Switchfoot, Gone, (Owl City Version) 2023

Recently and particularly, in the last 2 years, I swear I have become more morbid.

Maybe it's part of that phenomenon we call mid-life crisis.

I have been thinking recently a lot about?two things, the Universe, and Death.

First the 'Universe'.?Over the past few years, I have heard a lot of talk about the universe, like it's some kind of living entity.

‘Don’t say that into the universe’

‘If you take that step, the universe will bend to your desire’

‘’The universe is conspiring in your favour’’?

There is even a special?term for this theory.?

Pronoia.

But what actually is this universe we are talking about?

We live on a planet called Earth, all 8 billion of us. This planet is a small to mid-sized planet orbiting around a mid-sized sun which is just an ordinary star. Our sun is part of billions of other suns or stars which form our galaxy, which we call the Milky Way. The Milky Way is a galaxy which is just a small-sized galaxy in billions of other galaxies.?

That is the universe we are talking about. Is this what will bend to my little tiny whim? I don't think so, somehow.?

And then there is that thing called Death -? most of us can expect to live for just 80-90 years, and then just?cease to exist.

Combine these two things, and we kinda feel quite insignificant.

This is a truth we all know, and accept, at least in our heads, but I wonder whether that truth seeps into the crevices of our hearts and informs our every decision.

`But despite this truth, we all want to feel that in some way, our lives do matter.

And the truth is, yes, it does. All 8 billion of us, as well as the hundreds of thousands of people who enter this world, and who leave it every day.?

Yes, our lives do matter. Each and?Every one of us.

But as author Ben Horowitz writes:??We need to live our lives like samurais, like death is around the corner. This thinking about death and our significant insignificance must inform our every decision, our every step.

I agree.

I think that the best way to achieve true greatness in light of this significant insignificance??is broken down into 5 principles:

1. Our greatest joy in greatness only comes through service: As a leader, a husband, and a father, as I look back at my life, my greatest joys have come when I have been able to serve. Serving does not have always to?be about big things but rather,? should be ingrained into our lifestyle. A smile. A kind word. Make a cup of tea for your staff.?The real way up is down. Why do we universally admire Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, and the Dalai Lama? Because they lived a truth that we consistently know. True leadership is service. ?True joy in leadership comes when we re-orient our hearts from trying to climb up the greasy pole of life, to helping people up that pole. And the key is re-orienting our hearts. Not our minds. There is one word for that: Motives.
2. True greatness only comes from serving with the right motives:? As my friend, Gordon Field once told me recently: When serving, the real blessing comes when you do it with a smile without?anyone seeing it, and you don’t care who gets the credit. I hold great admiration for someone I know because?she does things (if you're reading this, you know who you are), the shitty jobs that no one likes doing, but nobody sees her doing. Emptying the bins. Recording boring statistics. Filling in paperwork. Changing the toilet tissue when it runs out.??The real test for motives is doing things?for people wholeheartedly even though you know they can never pay you back, and when no one is looking.
3. We live our greatest lives if we have?a transcendent attitude: In the light of what I just said about the universe, we live our best lives when we humbly?realise we are a small part of a big pie and that we are not irreplaceable or immortal -? the best thing we can do is leave this world better than we found it.??We are keenly aware that our lives, our work, and our purpose are only complete as one big whole with others. Our best life is finding which part of the pie we fit into,?and then giving it our all – intending to support others with their own unique slices for the greater good. ?
4. Staying (Slaying) in our lane: Taking pride in yourself is not a bad thing. Thinking you are awesome, brilliant, and doing well in life is great. The problem comes when you think you are something when you're not, when you compare yourself, for better or for worse,?to someone else. Comparison is the big thief of joy. We look at people, and we envy them, but the truth is we envy the parts we like and ignore the parts we don’t. Do you see that guy with the six-pack and broad chest when you're working out in the gym? Well, he’s also mean and selfish. The overweight and obese leader you secretly laugh at behind his back? Well, he’s also kind, caring and considerate. We forget that everything comes as a package - both good and bad -?that's why envy is so silly. (I'm talking to myself here...). The messy, scatty and untidy boss you work with? Well, he's also creative, brilliant at solving problems and fantastic with change and integration.

We could all do with some wisdom from British hip-hop superstar Aitch from his ?2019 hit?Close to Home...

...?Pack your bag we got a ride

Ain’t my brother, you can't come if you won’t

You get a fraction of my life

But the rest, you don't?know nothin’ so?don’t act like you’re on course...

5.?Rejoice that you are unique, NOT?special: Yes, there is no one quite like you. You're unique, but that doesn’t make you special. Many people we call ‘successful’ have an advantage that most don’t: access to information, demographics, legacy, race, gender, sexual orientation,?luck, and generational wealth.?

I'm not saying we don't bear some responsibility for our lives. Of course, we do, especially our reaction to what happens to us. I call this White Flag Pain in my book, Pay The Price.

?But how do we define greatness, anyway? I once heard of a humble?cleaner who had been in the same job for decades. She wasn’t rich or elite. But she loved her job. She took great pride in it. More than that, she had a special cabinet where she stored food,?clothes and amenities?that she bought out of her meagre salary, which she gave out to the homeless every morning before dawn when she cleaned. She became legendary in the community for her work ethic and kindness. But she remained a poor?cleaner on minimum wage. Was she successful? Was she great? Did she leave a mark? Depends on how you define success or greatness.

But there’s one thing for sure. She slayed in her lane.

And in the light of the huge infinite universe and our finite mortality, maybe we should as well.?

Whilst you're here...

1. Work with me. I can speak, mentor, write or consult. Hop onto www.stevenadjei.com for a taste, read what people are saying about my work, and holler at [email protected] for a chat.
2. Buy my book. You won't regret it. It's won several awards and has been number 1 on Amazon in more than EIGHTEEN categories. If you are in the UK or US, the direct links are below. If you already have, I'd love an honest review on Amazon. Reviews really help us out :)-.?
3. Talk to me: I won't judge. I've been through every kind of pain you can imagine, and I can work with you to help overcome (or manage) your business pain and turn it into victory.

Let's do life.

Rooting for you,?

Steven.?

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If you HAVE bought and read the book, please leave a review on Amazon + and share it on social media. :)

Rooting for you,

Steven.