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alexander.kharlamov · 12-25-2006, 05:10 AM

It really depends on your definition of "great."

When I was a kid, my definition of "greatness" was either becoming a scientist and discovering something groundbreaking, or becoming a military commander and winning a battle or war.

Then, in my teenage years, my definition shifted to creating something great - music, art, novel, a video game.

Then, as I graduated from college, "greatness" to me started to mean only "become a billionaire."

Now, a few years after college, I've realized that greatness doesn't necessarily mean something extraordinary in other people's eyes. If two people manage to have a lasting marriage, raise a loving family and grow old together - that's great. Remarkable, actually. Why have I started thinking that? Because as I got older, I see how difficult it actually is. How few people ever manage to have a trouble-free marriage.

So, to be great, you have to think - what does it really mean to YOU to be great? And then, work towards becoming that. :-)

12-25-2006, 05:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
alexander.kharlamov Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 42	It really depends on your definition of "great." When I was a kid, my definition of "greatness" was either becoming a scientist and discovering something groundbreaking, or becoming a military commander and winning a battle or war. Then, in my teenage years, my definition shifted to creating something great - music, art, novel, a video game. Then, as I graduated from college, "greatness" to me started to mean only "become a billionaire." Now, a few years after college, I've realized that greatness doesn't necessarily mean something extraordinary in other people's eyes. If two people manage to have a lasting marriage, raise a loving family and grow old together - that's great. Remarkable, actually. Why have I started thinking that? Because as I got older, I see how difficult it actually is. How few people ever manage to have a trouble-free marriage. So, to be great, you have to think - what does it really mean to YOU to be great? And then, work towards becoming that. :-)