How To Be Great
1. Be Original.
One of the starting blocks of greatness is orignality. Why would anyone want to do what someone has already done?
There ain't nothing great about that.
2. Do Not Ride On Coattails.
To draw and analogy from the latest season of Survivor: Samoa, Natalie White did win the title of Sole Survivor in the end, but unfortunately she is going to be forgotten as soon as you say French Toast. And this is simply because she rode on Russell's coattails. She wasn't original in her gameplay. Who is everybody going to remember? Russell Hantz, that's who.
Why am I going on about this? Because this is a very crucial point and you need to remember that greatness far surpasses success. In simple mathematical terms, Success ≠ Greatness.
3. Never Bank On Past Successes.
You see, this is what your teachers will tell you. Learn from experience. Darlings, once and for all, that is bullshit.
Okay, learn from your failures, but never get complacent about previous success.
The most carnal sin would be to bank on riding someone else's coattails to success.
4. Never Give Up.
What would have happened if Moses had told God that there was no way he was gonna lead the thousands of people out of Egypt?
Yeah, I don't know either. But anyway, you probably would not even be here right now.
Greatness comes to those who push and persevere no matter the circumstance, because they know breakthroughs are a-coming.
And this, you need to internalise. Make it your life-long mantra.
5. Believe In Yourself.
This is the fifth and final rule in the book. And one of the most important, yet, sadly overlooked.
How do you become great if you do not even believe you are great?
Don't just say: I don't know.
Yes, you don't. So go find out, go do it by yourself.
And remember what the Bible says. 2 Timothy 4:7. Fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.
And if this is not the best advice I can give you dear juniors/friends/loved ones, then I have nothing else to say.
Peace.