2020-10-27 Obsess over your inte

The biggest movements in the world are built by the people with the strongest intentions, not the biggest goals. Gandhi, The Beatles, Shakespeare — these people were obsessed with their causes and their work, not their followers.

That’s not just healthier, easier, and more honorable than being purely outcome-oriented, it also acknowledges reality:

You can’t control who will follow you.

As much time as we should spend on choosing our own actions wisely, as little should go towards other people’s choices. Because the number of those we control is zero. Zero. All you can do is lead by example.

The people who change the world are the people whom millions choose to follow. But that’s not something they can influence. Usually, what they’re focused on is how rigorously they should pursue their intentions at any given time. Whether they should apply more force or less. Context. Timing. Those matter. Not how fast your graph of followers goes up and to the right.

So don’t worry about the outcome, worry about why you’re doing it in the first place. Are you struggling just to struggle? Secretly wishing for a shortcut? Or do you mean what you’re about to do? Those questions deserve answers.