What Do You Stand For?

Hey watsup people? For this post I have a lot of questions, because I can only see this topic through my personal viewpoint so feel free to comment, as always. And though this post won't be as radical as others, at least I don't think once I get goin who knows lol, I still would ask if you have something to say say it and if you read it take it in and question yourself and your life. 

So the thing that sparked this post is an interview I watched with Sean Parker. If you don't know who Sean Parker is, he founded Napster, was on the Facebook board of directors (Justin Timberlake in the movie haha), and now is on some board for Spotify. Why is he important? Good question. I think his story is interesting because he went from a young kid, mad millions by founding Napster, lost it all in court cases for breaching copyrights, then was homeless and bounced back. Now he's worth approximately $2.4 Billion I think. Oh, and he's done all of this and he's only 34 years old. -That's crazy to me, digress.

Anyways, I was watching this interview, right? And it was hosted by Jimmy Fallon or something, and they were talking about how he got started computer programming and his early struggles (he founded Napster when he was still a teenager) and just his journey to where he is now. The one part of the interview that stuck the most to me was a certain part when the interviewer asked if Parker was happy to have regained his capital after being homeless and on the run. And what did he say? "Oh, it was never about the money..." Then he starts talking about how he just loved programming, and then he really loved music, so he put the two together and kept following that passion. 

And I mean of course when you're legally a billionaire you can act like money isn't that important to you. But there was something about the way he answered that you could tell that when he started everything, it wasn't about the money. He really just wanted to give people the opportunity to stream the music they wanted when they wanted to.

And when watching interviews from other billionaires, they all said the same thing. At the origin it was never about the money. Bill Gates said he just wanted to learn as much as he could and connect people. Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet, etc. all of them said from their beginnings it wasn't about the money. Do I believe every single one of them? Hell no, but it's just crazy the uniform answer that they all gave. Digress.

Of course this sparked my thoughts, right? And I started thinking about the way that society is set up now. It's the complete opposite! If you're from a family who isn't extremely wealthy, which most of these men are, you are placed on the path to mediocrity. You are taught to go through the system, get a degree and a decent paying job that you can live on. 

And this belief isn't always placed by parents, it's everywhere! By schools, after school programs, churches, etc. I think that's disgusting. This could go hand in hand with my problems with the educational system in America but I won't do that right now.

The main thing I took out of it is, what would people do if they actually achieved what they wanted to do instead of having their dreams capped off? And how many people do what they do just for the money? And on top of that why would a society ever promote a system in which people are placed on a path to this mediocre system which doesn't allow people to reach their maximum potential. 

Even at my job right now, I hear people talk about how much they despise being at work, but I work at one of the most favored employers in the area. So my logic is it can only get worse right? So I've decided to step off of this path in my future.

I'll probably make a lot less than I was estimated to make with the current degree I will receive, but this is the way I see it. The thing that you do most in your time here on this planet is work. You begin to work at 22-23 if you graduate from college and you retire, eh with how the governments going, around 60-70. That's 40+ years of work, after which you have that same 20ish years to live if you're lucky and your heart hasn't been compromised from waking up earlier than your body is supposed to function, making you drink coffee and other energy drinks which slowly deteriorate your body, but I digress. 

My point is that in America you can either take a step out on faith and chase your own dream, or you can be complacent and chase someone else's; (i.e. working for any company where you work 40+ hours a week just for your work to maybe be recognized in an minescule employee award, digress) so why would you not chase your own? It's easier to follow the path that's laid before you, but it's more admirable to create your own. 

So back to the point of this post, what do you stand for? Are you just out here with no passion at all trying to get a check every week, or are you chasing a dream? And don't get it wrong, you can have jobs that you don't completely love if you have to set yourself up for a future movement, but are you rich and depressed or getting by and joyous?

You only get one chance on the earth, do you want people to remember you as the person who did what they were told or what they wanted and could not be stopped by obstacles? Idk man, I'll probably stop before I preach too much, but the only way for this pre-established system run by big name brands and corrupt CEO's to tumble is by more people taking the path less traveled. 

**First, why would you want to support these people's dreams? Second, why would you make yourself suffer through your entire life like this?**

So whether you want to create a clothing line that people can wear worldwide, or you want to become a doctor and start your own physicians office, or you want to invent something that effects everyone you interact with don't let this system of mediocrity mess you up man. It's clearly the reason our nation continues to lose its supremacy and I feel like it'll soon be debunked (hopefully within our lifetime) but until then, be the person to make that change. Don't keep going down this same road man, because if you chase somebody else's dream you'll never know what true happiness is. That's not your spiritual calling. You'll always have a void in you because you're not doing what you were placed on this earth to do if you have to force your heart to be behind it. Digress.  

I say, while you're still  young and have limited responsibilities (i.e. no kids/one kid, limited insurance, rent instead of a mortgage, etc.) and you have a passion, or are finding your passion, let it shine. Take whatever it is that you're passionate about (if you're not sure watch the news or have a debate with people about real world things, it'll find you before you find it) and find a way to change the world with it. After all, the worst that could happen is that you end up back in the system they tried to place you in anyways, right? But at least you can say you tried. And that passion will keep growing and burning and there's no doubt that you'll be successful, whatever your definition of success is. Promise you that. But I'll end this rant now.

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." -Oscar Wilde

Just my thoughts.

-Marcus J.