Why do you run a business? You’re no Gates or Bezos or Musk.
Why do you teach? You’re no Aristotle or Sullivan or Montessori.
Why do you play guitar? You’re no Hendrix or Segovia or Abasi.
Why do you write poems? You’re no Neruda or Collins or Dickinson.
Why do you paint? You’re no Rembrandt or Picasso or Kahlo.
Why do you play sports? You’re no Pele or Jordan or Manning.
Why do you fight for justice? You’re no Chavez or Mandela or King.
Nope. You’re not. And you never will be. And that’s ok.
There will always be someone to question your credentials. And it’s always with the implication that you are clearly not cut out for whatever. “Who do you think you are? Best to try something else. Something easier. Something more suited to you.”
What’s rooted in comparison is not worth listening to. Some of us have a hard time turning off others’ voices; some of of have a hard time turning off our own voices. In either case, the only thing to do is put in some earplugs and get back to work.
If the goal is to be the best of the best, well, then there’s not much point in doing anything at all. But if the goal is to do what you’re passionate about as well as you can—that, I think, is all the reason you need to keep on working.
