Alfred Nobel’s Second Wind
I was standing in the hallway yelling a “did you know” question to my son Drew.
“Hey DB, did you know about Alfred Nobel?”
Did you know why it is believed that he created the Nobel prize?
Yes, he knew .. and do you?
It is thought that Nobel created the “Nobel Prize” because a French newspaper mistakenly published a death notice calling him a “Merchant of Death.” The short of the story is that his brother died and news of his death was a case of mistaken identity. Many people believe that when Nobel read his death notice, it changed his life. His following actions told a story of a person intent on changing his legacy. https://www.history.com/news/did-a-premature-obituary-inspire-the-nobel-prize. Nobel went on to leave upon his death 95% of his wealth towards people who serve to benefit humanity. He created the “Nobel Prize” He is now remembered mostly for changing the world in a good way.
He decided how he wanted to impact the world and he made the change happen.
If you read your “death notice” or your eulogy, what would it say today?
Does it matter to you?
What impact have you had on the people around you?
What about beyond your known network?
How about a thought exercise? Maybe only a moment or three..
Think about where you are today.
Are you where you want to be?
Are you doing what you want to do?
Are you happy? If not, why not?
Do you need other people to validate how you feel?
Do you believe in your ability?
Do you understand what you CAN do? (Do you know what you are capable of?)
Do you live in fear? BE HONEST <<– this is about you.
Does fear hold you hostage? <<–Does it?
What if there was no fear? (Meaning you had no fear)
What would you do? <<— If you could do anything you wanted within reason!
Nobel needed the prompt from the newspaper as he realized the difference between what he did in his life vs what he wanted to do. His legacy lives on but he is not an exception. His contribution at some point like everything else will be forgotten knowledge. However, his impact on humanity will live on.
Do you understand what this means? We are only here for a moment. Throughout history, we may be remembered for a time but that memory will fade. Regardless, we will have an impact and if we think about this in a scientific way, no matter what, our contributions good or bad will always exist. (Our human memory doesn’t matter)<– this is the point.
In my travels, I see people that hold all sorts of titles. Here is a little known secret.
Most everyone you know has fear. <– I didn’t say everyone..
Many people aren’t aware of themselves. They are unaware of their abilities.
They feel hopeless, helpless, and alone. <– lots of leaders do..
In recent days, I have struggled with Machiavelli. (Talk about a guy with a legacy!)
I have seen his words being played out in real life. It isn’t the first time for me but I always have hope that people will rise above and against their fears. Fear holds us hostage. It strangles and suffocates our abilities. It is an invisible force more powerful that we can speak to because it is our own imagination that disables and disarms us.
We don’t act because we are afraid for some reason. Sometimes it takes fear of something to overtake a fear of something else.
For many people, fear is the reality. If we were to realize how much ability we truly have as individuals and if we could see the path ahead of us and have the courage to walk it without risk and without fear, many of us would make different choices.
There is only conditional certainty. It is for CERTAIN if we do not act we have already chosen to give up. The universe will meet you part of the way, but it won’t meet you all the way. If you leave everything to serendipity and chance, the universe will take a shot at helping you, but things will fall just short of where you’d like it to be.
What about Changing the world?
I’d suggest Nobel was afraid of being remembered as a man who created destructive technologies that harmed mankind. His fear of being remembered in this way was so strong that it drove him to do something about it.
Everyone has their own origin story. One thing I can tell you is that if you are reading this, you most likely didn’t grow up with a silver spoon.
You have your own story. You know what it is. You are a tapestry, a unique and distinct entity with your own complexity. Being unique is not within itself unique BUT because you are the only you that you are, YOU have a choice on how you want to use your abilities. This may require some exploration.
Changing the whole world can be done with a whisper.
It can be done with a word.
It can be done with an action.
It is a choice..
Changing the world could be changing YOUR world.
No Fear
It would make me very happy to tell you that I have the universal answer to FEAR.
I manage a lot of fear for myself. What I have determined for myself is that fear is an indication. It is a tool that I can use to my benefit and to the benefit of others. People can overcome fear without requiring a greater more powerful fear.
Courage is one answer to fear but it takes more than blind courage. It takes hope towards an outcome. Even if we can’t see the end of whatever we are looking to achieve, we can envision an outcome in our minds eye and take the next step. Every step towards overcoming our fear gets us closer towards where we need to be for ourselves. All the leadership and philosophy books ever written won’t help you to overcome your fears. You have to look inside and factor in “all the things” and sometimes you have to say “Eff it” and just go and do it.
In some circles, I am known to say “push the button” and in others I am known to say “lets go” but in all cases, I am for moving. Taking the next step towards the outcomes that I’d like to see. Changing my world, changing THE world.
Change the world, you CAN do it!