I received an email yesterday with a sneak peak into Tim Ferriss’s new book Tools of Titans. This is part of what Tim hopes to convey in his book:
The superheroes you have in your mind (idols, icons, titans, billionaires, etc.) are nearly all walking flaws who’ve maximized 1 or 2 strengths. Humans are imperfect creatures. You don’t “succeed” because you have no weaknesses; you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them. Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. The heroes in this book are no different. Everyone struggles. Take solace in that.
This quote really hit home for me.
Greats Have Problems Too
One of my major problems in young adulthood has been trying to live the life society deems right. From early childhood we’ve been inundated with princes and princesses, Barbies and Kens, nice cars, big houses, a loving family, and a stable job. Once I graduated college I was opened up to this world. People worked their butts off to support their family, their nice cars, and their big houses. And work became their life. It consumed their well-being. A couple of years around these people had me questioning the basis of “life goals.”
The mindset, of me having a problem with this lifestyle, was in direct contradiction with everything I had ever been taught, and what everyone around me seemingly wanted for themselves. I started looking in the mirror thinking I was the problem. My problem was that I did not fit in with society, where everyone else seemed to have found their place. I thought I was the loser and everyone else were the winners. I was wrong.
Even the most successful people in the world have their problems. Tim Ferris’s quote puts that plain and clear. That doesn’t mean the greats dwell on their problems. No, they find their problems and then do the opposite. Instead of trying to fulfill themselves by vanquishing their problems, they focus on their strengths. What they’re good at is what propels them forward.
Everyone is Fighting a Battle You Know Nothing About
No matter who you are around each person you come across is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Whether it’s a successful millionaire, the janitor of your halls, or your middle school teacher. We all have problems. I have problems too. We aren’t perfect, we’re human.
It’s impossible to eliminate all of our problems and it’s impossible to know all of the problems others have. What we can do is treat everyone with respect. No matter what problem someone is having, treating someone poorly isn’t going to help. In the end, we’re all in this together, and trying to battle for another day.