Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Are You Being Unreasonable?

Being "unreasonable" typically is seen as a negative thing. Literally "not being able to be reasoned with" should be seen as a weakness, right? Out of the mainstream? Inappropriate?

So...what about all those leaders who ushered in breakthrough movements? People like the Wright brothers, who invented powered flight - against everyone else's ridicule? Or like Thomas Edison, who dared to insist on electrically-powered light/machines in homes everywhere? Or Steve Jobs? Wasn't it "unreasonable" to try and launch a personal computer that used "real" fonts and was focused on ease of use? (Not to mention challenging the music industry with iPods, or the mobile phone industry with iPhones, or the tablet market with the iPad...)

Is it possible that the only time significant breakthroughs occur is when some FINALLY takes a stand and becomes "unreasonable"?

There's a great quote by George Bernard Shaw: "Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people".

Consider your dreams - the new breakthrough vision of the future (in whatever arena, big or small) and ask "Am I passionate about my idea enough to be seen as "unreasonable" in the minds of all the myopic "keep with the safe way we've always done it" people that surround me?" If not, I challenge you to find an idea that you ARE passionate enough to risk unabashedly launching it into this world. You deserve the legacy you create on purpose - but it requires you bringing something new, different and better to life.

Think about it. But more importantly do something about it...today!

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