[...] Stuff MLR presents A Guide to Greatness posted at My Life ROI, Getting the Best Return On Life. Travis presents Are you a material girl or [...]

[...] presents A Guide to Greatness posted at My Life ROI, Getting the Best Return On Life [...]

[...] MLR presents A Guide to Greatness posted at My Life ROI, Getting the Best Return On Life. “Think about where you are in your [...]

Thanks! Great connection to a physics/science concept of momentum. I think that is the perfect way to capture the idea of someone heading down the right path with the right “energy” behind them.

Building upon your last sentence, pursuing the “wrong direction” could become more valuable than the previously considered “right direction.”

Thanks for the comment!

The difference is defining greatness intrinsically vs. extrinsically. You make your own marathon, you beat your own time. Some of the biggest personal wins might be (more or less) invisible to everyone else!
MoneyEnergy´s last blog ..Will the September Correction Come in October?

Fair enough. I’m sure you understand why I’m not about to post every achievement I’ve ever had on the internet. I cherry picked a few just to show you that I do apply these principles in my life and I’ve made them work. I’ve quit quite a few things before finding something else that I do great.

I understand where you’re coming from in regards to the motivational speaker genre of blog posts. I rarely write about this sort of stuff. I am typically more analytical. I just need to practice writing in another voice. That AND I’ve noticed a lot of motivational posts don’t give it to people straight. “Keep trying… you’ll get there!” “Don’t give up!” And I think that’s crap. Giving up is part of life. You can’t be great at everything, that’s just the way it is. Maybe I gave myself too much credit in thinking this was “different” than the norm, but I’d say more often than not people sugar coat their motivational posts.

Feel free to stop by more, it’s good to have someone who can articulate their thoughts — whether they agree or disagree with me!

I started writing out a longer response, but deleted it — there’s nothing really to criticize in what you’re doing. I’ve just moved past needing to read this “motivational speaker” genre on the internet. I’ve started to question whether it’s even useful. That came out personally against you which may not have been justified, although I still question the value of this sort of writing.

But I shouldn’t impose my values on your site. I should just stop reading this type of material, and focus on real things in my life.
Tyler Karaszewski´s last blog ..Summer Update

Skeptics will always be skeptics, in my experience.

I may just be a “20-something professional/blogger,” but I have advanced past the point in my life where I think I need to quantify greatness with “gold medals”, “Nobel peace prizes”,”elections”, etc. Are you telling me that you do not know anyone who is great that does not have some medal or award on their wall?

Do you think a person who dedicates their life to being a great mother is not great because she lacks the approval of a large body of people (which seems to be the overriding theme in your list of measures of greatness).

But, alas, to answer your question more directly:
-In college, while working full-time and attending classes full-time, I took over the web presence of a non-profit foundation. My actions led to a 300% increase in donations that funded the building of a primary school in Africa. They are now building a 2nd school. I’m still involved with them, albeit on a smaller scale.
-In college, I was an officer of the largest club in my Top 25 business school and led a campaign that doubled our membership. I also led a campaign to obtain “Business Partnerships” which enabled us to give out $50,000+ in scholarships.
-At my current Fortune 100 company (you were right, I work for a big corporation!), I was given a selective award (sort of like a MVP) from a Vice President. I think he said that I was amongst the few people who have ever received that award after being with the company for such a short time.
-And, most importantly: I am a great sibling, child, uncle, cousin, friend, and boyfriend.

Thanks for commenting, I think you asked a pertinent and much deserved question. I would, however, think about how you asked me to “prove my greatness.” I listed those first 3 to satisfy your question, but I think the last one is the most important. Often times people let the minutia get in the way of being a great ____ (insert any personal relationship).

If you know how to achieve greatness, where are the gold medals? The world records? The Nobel Peace Prizes? The elections you won? The non-profits you founded? The lives you saved? Shouldn’t you have something to show for your knowledge on the topic?

Like I said – I’m skeptical.
Tyler Karaszewski´s last blog ..Summer Update