Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?
This is the theme underlying the breakthrough historical musical Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton was a driven entrepreneur at heart. An immigrant, the son of poverty from a nowhere island, he rose through drive and initiative to become America’s most unique founding father and literally the “inventor” of key concepts like government banks and public debt. He lived hard and died young, like a modern rock star. He was deeply flawed: selfish, loud-mouthed, with serious anger management issues that ultimately led to his death. But he also inspired awe, respect, and even love as he careened through his life. His wife, who Hamilton had treated poorly in parts of their co-existence, devoted her life after his death to assuring his reputation and place in history.
All this came to mind this week, because I saw a report about Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. For the first time in 4 championship tournaments, Curry won the MVP award this year. That set off a riot of writing about Curry as basketball’s GOAT or at minimum the architect of the modern 3-point-centric style of play.
Given that Curry is, by NBA standards, small, slight and the product of a third-tier university (Davidson College in North Carolina), all this is remarkably improbable. When asked about how he did it, Curry responded:
“No one gets to write your story but you. Not some scouts. Not some tournament. Not these other kids, who might do this better or that better… None of those people, and none of those things, gets to be the author of your story. Just you. So think real hard about it. Take your time. And then you go and write what you want to write. But just know that this story — it’s yours.” Curry said these were the lessons taught him by his mom and that motivated him during his difficult rise to the top.
I think these are essential watchwords for modern entrepreneurs. You are the sole and exclusive author of you. Nobody knows you better. Nobody else can control your thoughts and actions. No one but you can decide if it is time to quit or to press on in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.
As American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
So, just be you. Be great. Write your own story.
By Managing Partner Mike Edelhart
@MikeEdelhart
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- Inception with Brian Tran and David Stevens, Co-Founders of Serif, a global members club for LGBTQ Leaders and Creators
- The Summer of Our Disintegration: How To Keep Your Head While Everyone Else Is Losing Theirs
- The Surprising Correlation Between Happiness And Grit
