I aspire to be great.

[Shyone]

What do you do if....you're normal....but you want to achieve great things. How does one typical, unexciting, underachieving individual surpass the accomplishments of the average person?

[JaredR]

What are things you consider to be great?

[Daniel Becerra]

Success is doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways.

You're not ordinary, nor simple, my friend. You're always changing, moving, experiencing new emotions, bringing emotions in other people and so on. How could that be "simple"?

[Eisho]

Originally Posted by Shyone

What do you do if....you're normal....but you want to achieve great things. How does one typical, unexciting, underachieving individual surpass the accomplishments of the average person?

Start getting up earlier, going to bed later and filling the hours in between with hard, concentrated work that takes you in the direction you wish to go.

Eisho

[jtracy]

You need to realize that all great things were done by people who were otherwise typical. The only difference is that they had a burning desire to acheive something. The average person won't go out of their comfort zone (because they don't have any real motivation to do so), so if you can do that you've already surpassed the average person. To acheive something great all you need to do is to decide that you will acheive it and be totally committed to it by being willing to do whatever it takes (as long as it's legal, moral, and ethical) in order to acheive it. If you can do that, things just fall into place.

[catalyst]

Originally Posted by jtracy

You need to realize that all great things were done by people who were otherwise typical. The only difference is that they had a burning desire to acheive something. The average person won't go out of their comfort zone (because they don't have any real motivation to do so), so if you can do that you've already surpassed the average person. To acheive something great all you need to do is to decide that you will acheive it and be totally committed to it by being willing to do whatever it takes (as long as it's legal, moral, and ethical) in order to acheive it. If you can do that, things just fall into place.

I love the way you put that into words. Default behaviour is to follow routine and slip into your comfort zone. You need to run uphill, and push your boundaries to achieve anything that is extraordinary.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by jtracy

as long as it's legal, moral, and ethical

Why these constraints?

[Parthon]

Is it worth it becoming great if your works are tainted?

Can you ride on the broken backs of the people you've down trodden, when they often are the same ones you expect to raise you up later?

Most of the greatest people in history have had strong ethics.

[ProjectX]

Start off with baby steps.

[Plato]

I don't even know what great means. And by whose standard? Who cares? Do you really care? If you do, great! I think I did once. But think about it - the idea of "greatness" makes no sense at all. Just try to define it and that becomes obvious enough. Clearly there may be things worth doing but does that make you great, because you do certain stuff? And technically speaking do women have gooches?

[catalyst]

People have different interpretations of greatness, but mine is making best use of your faculties and resources -> basically fully tapping into your true potential. In this sense, we can all achieve greatness, but it takes a lot of work. It isn't about accumulating wealth/knowledge, although those may be by-products of it.

If you look back, not many people are remembered as great for what they had. They are remembered what they achieved, not for themselves, but for the betterment of humanity.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by catalyst

If you look back, not many people are remembered as great for what they had. They are remembered what they achieved, not for themselves, but for the betterment of humanity.

Does the idea of being remembered as great have value for you? I'm not judging and slagging -- just observing our differences.

[catalyst]

The idea of being remembered doesn't have great value for me, as I think it is a by-product of making a difference in the lives of those around you. I wouldn't pursue greatness for the sake of having a legacy. It it is an observation that those that are most fondly noted in history are those that worked for a cause greater than themselves.

Though, I do admit that I hope to live my life in a way that inspires others to do better.

[Chris Cade]

Originally Posted by Shyone

What do you do if....you're normal....but you want to achieve great things. How does one typical, unexciting, underachieving individual surpass the accomplishments of the average person?

Don't aspire to be great. Choose to be great.

Believe it or not, it IS that simple. Make the choice. Then act in alignment with that choice. The hard part is the willpower and strength to continue.

To reiterate:
- It's very simple.
- It's not easy.
- It's a choice.

[Parthon]

Originally Posted by Plato

I don't even know what great means. And by whose standard? Who cares? Do you really care? If you do, great! I think I did once. But think about it - the idea of "greatness" makes no sense at all. Just try to define it and that becomes obvious enough. Clearly there may be things worth doing but does that make you great, because you do certain stuff?

This just reminded me that I've already done a few great things, but for only a few people. It wasn't a case of striving for the best, but just doing something noone else had done, doing it well and expecting nothing in return.

As for "What is greatness?". What is trust, or love, or friendship, or compassion, or fear, or hate, or integrity, or honesty, or power, or truth? Some of these can be defined, but everyone will see it differently. Greatness is a universal value, but it's application varies, but not it's ideology. For me, it means to rise above your own negative impulses and reach for something greater.

The dictionary: To be superior in quality or character; noble.

Also: Greatness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[vladimirsan]

You must find what "great" thing you want to do...and to do that you must find what you love...and to do that you have to see, you have to experience all you can. Then...if you really find what you love...all becomes EASY

[ProjectX]

Originally Posted by Shyone

What do you do if....you're normal....but you want to achieve great things. How does one typical, unexciting, underachieving individual surpass the accomplishments of the average person?

Hey Shyone. You are probably in the 1-5% of people who aspires to reach their full potential. Congratulations of choosing this path because you are conscious enough to make this decision. This road can be a hard and lonely one. You may find yourself feeling left out and lonely, like a black sheep. but don't despair. The destination is one of great joy and satisfaction and is worth far more than the tribulation you will endure.
To stick to this path you must have strong core values, and sometimes this can contradict the mentality of the mass and society. But you must stick to your values and have an unwavering mentality. Always take right action, even if sometimes this means leaving the group.

Importantly, take the first step. Many people have great ambitions but are lazy. There are two people in this world. Those who dream and those who take action. So take the first step, even if it is small and seem pointless it is still in the right action.
I hope you the best on your journey. Have faith and discipline. Remember Thomas Edison had to try 100 times before he successfully made the light bulb.

Remember there are people out there like you and will be very willing to help you.

[Andrew Brunelle]

You just need to have the will to be great. And the luck.

[Chris Cade]

I heard a great quote along those lines in a movie tonight:

"If you're not going to go big, then go home."

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Shyone

What do you do if....you're normal....but you want to achieve great things. How does one typical, unexciting, underachieving individual surpass the accomplishments of the average person?

Oh it is not as difficult as it may seem.

All you have to do is start thinking atypical, exciting and achievement-oriented thoughts. The rest follows naturally.

[Brutha]

Why do you choice to label yourself as normal?

[johnlazy]

well to be great, you have to work hard. great people achieve greatness through hard work and believing in themselves that whatever happen they will strive for their best.