The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

November 7Chasing Fame

Enduring fame is ever posthumous. The orbs of virtue and genius seldom culminate during their terrestrial periods. Slow is the growth of great names, slow the procession of excellence into arts, institutions, life. Ages alone reflect their fullness of lustre. The great not only unseal, but create the organs by which they are to be seen. Neither Socrates nor Jesus is yet visible to the world.

Amos Bronson Alcott—“Orphic Sayings” (1842)

Even a tiny sliver of fame and recognition can be kind of intoxicating. But seeking it as anything more than the accidental by-product of doing good work is to ask for something you do not understand.

The Stoics, who influenced many of the transcendentalists, had much to say about seeking fame—in particular, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius:

Give yourself a gift: the present moment. People out for posthumous fame forget that the Generations To Come will be the same annoying people they know now. And just as mortal. What does it matter to you if they say x about you, or think y?

(Would have been a nice tweet back in 180 AD.)

You know the top 50 so and so's list to follow in your industry. There's a really good chance most of them have little to offer you but a lot of Twitter followers.

Fall in love with your work, add value to every conversation, master your craft, achieve success on your terms, and don't wait for the accolades.

Challenge Question

1. Are you looking for something outside of yourself that you already have? ...