It is interesting that for the last five years I have been infatuated with the idea of looking at the lives of my idols and trying to figure out their secret. I have explored the biographies of what must be close to a hundred individuals in a variety of fields but mostly individuals in comedy, film, magic, and animation. What I learn from these studies is that I am statistically less likely to figure out what area/niche I will excel in or become famous for as I get older.
Woody Allen, George Lucas, Houdini, Walt Disney, etc. all knew what they wanted to do by the age of 20 and focused their lives around those ambitions. Some even as young as 16 (Woody Allen & Houdini) were already working in the field they later became famous in. That leaves me being the guy who never finds the right path due to an obsession with trying to find the right path. You can’t find a much more ironic or depressing realization than that.
This does not mean I plan on giving up any of my dreams or possibility for fame. More importantly I still am shooting for financial stability in something I love. With this new realization, I am hoping to release myself from these cyclical psychological restraints and attempt to let go of this obsession. I realize as a student of psychology, that words do not work as the movie “The Secret” wants you to believe. Words do not manifest themselves in reality; instead action is louder than words and baby steps come before being able to run.
This being said, I would like to utilize my research for some good or actionable profit. These will be in future articles in my blog, with post that look at the life of people I have admired and studied. You may find these interesting or a waste of time. This decision is yours but I feel compelled to use this opportunity to share my thoughts on these historical figures and purge them from my obsessive consciousness.
