“The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” – William James.
University of Paris’s first woman professor and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, Marie Curie said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” Fear often results from ignorance [lack of awareness] but with adequate illumination, there will be no place for fear to hide anymore because comprehension is the cure to apprehension!
Albert Einstein, one of the greatest and most influential scientists of all time and Nobel Prize winner said, “The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before.” Those who KICK UP SOME DUST in their generation are people who quit being ordinary and become exceptional by accepting responsibility in living their lives for something that will outlast it!
Michelangelo’s profound insight, “The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark,” resonates deeply with the “Kick Up Some Dust” concept. Both notions share a common thread of urging individuals to transcend their comfort zones, dream big, and pursue ambitions that may seem audacious at first.
When we relate Michelangelo’s wisdom to the “Kick Up Some Dust” concept, it serves as a reminder that playing it safe and setting mediocre goals can be a greater peril than reaching for the stars and falling short.
Bernie Marcus’s entrepreneurial journey with Home Depot exemplifies this synergy. When Marcus and his co-founder, Arthur Blank, embarked on the ambitious venture of creating Home Depot, they aimed high, setting their sights on transforming the home improvement retail landscape.
The danger of aiming too low is like settling for the familiar path, missing out on opportunities for growth, innovation, and true fulfillment. “Kick Up Some Dust” encourages us to embrace challenges, take risks, and break free from the constraints of mediocrity.
The concept emphasizes the importance of daring to dream beyond what seems easily attainable, and in doing so, leaving a lasting impact on one’s surroundings.
In the context of Michelangelo’s quote, “Kick Up Some Dust” becomes a call to action, urging individuals to raise their aspirations, challenge the ordinary, and propel themselves into uncharted territory. By kicking up dust – disrupting the status quo, pursuing ambitious goals, and leaving a trail of progress – one not only avoids the danger of settling for the ordinary but also contributes to a legacy of innovation and achievement. So, aim high, kick up some dust, and let the echoes of your audacious pursuits inspire others to do the same. [To be continued next week].
