When I was younger, I always felt pressured to impress those around me.
I don’t know what changed, but I no longer feel the need to impress people anymore.
That being said, is this beneficial or detrimental to my personal development?
I’d say it’s a little bit of both.
It’s beneficial because I can live more for myself and care less what other people think, but it might be detrimental because I care so little about what other people think that, perhaps this prevents me from trying as hard at certain things as I would if I did care about the judgments of other people.
When I was around the age of 15, I made a decision—a decision that’s since changed my life.
I decided, very staunchly, that I would no longer depend on other people to accomplish that which I want to accomplish, and that whenever I want to do something, I won’t depend on other people to do it. Basically, I decided that I’ll do what I want when I want (provided those actions are financially feasible in relation to my budget).
If I want to swim across the Long Island Sound (and I do, and I will), I’ll ask a few friends if they want to join me. When all of them decline (and they already did), I won’t let their decision impact my own actions. By God, I’m swimming to Connecticut, with or without them. You know why? Because I want to. And because I won’t let their decision impede my ability to achieve my own goals, as pointless as they may be.
You know what?
My lifestyle is only beneficial to my personal development. If I want to be good at something, I choose to be good at something. Why would I care about what others want me to be good at? I’m living for me, not for them.
I don’t like chess. I don’t have to be good at chess just because somebody else thinks I have the potential to be a World Champion. Of course, I could be. But I don’t WANT TO BE. Back off.
I’m swimming to Connecticut this summer.
You’re all invited.
Until next time,
Michael J. Erickson, CEO & Co-Founder
