“No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues.” – Bertrand Russell, mathematician and philosopher.
When was the last time you read an in-depth article about a level-headed business executive with quiet family life, steady company, and no personal problems?
The fact remains, whether it is a gossip website, Vanity Fair article, or scandalous tweet, we tend to cue in on the Type-A, crash and burn, marriage on the rocks, multiple substance abuse problems, individuals when we give our attention to the media.
It might even seem like a prerequisite to success. Never mind the hard work, long hours, unique ideas, and good timing. But, instead, the national spotlight’s impression is that the natural avenue to achievement is extreme eccentricity.
Eccentricity, for the sake of itself, is a shortcut. The real value of success comes from hard work and discipline. It can be easy to forget, but here are a few clues to help you remember.
At the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin created a system to develop his character. In his autobiography, Franklin listed his thirteen virtues as:
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It’s always helpful to have guidance from someone who has mastered a variety of fields, including business, politics, science, and travel, all without a formal education.
The extreme elements of world culture these days seem to almost beg for extreme behavior. We should remember that the race of life is long and in the end, we’re only really competing with ourselves.
