|
In a recent biography
of Alexander the Great, the author, in exploring Alexander's
motivations and driving forces, makes some fascinating
observations.
It would seem that Alexander was a devoted reader of Homer's
great epic poems, The Odyssey and the Iliad; particularly the
latter. The Iliad deals with Ancient Greek ideals of hero,
warfare and glory in the context of the war against the city of
Troy. Alexander, it would seem, read these stories from an early
age and imagined himself to be in the same line as the classic
Greek heroes of yesteryear. He was quite obsessive about this
poem epic and could recite large sections of it by heart. In
fact, he had a special copy made for himself and took it with
him on his exploits and conquests of two million square miles of
the ancient world.
In particular, his great hero was Achilles, from whom he was
said to be a direct descendant through his mother. Throughout
his life, Alexander engaged in a sort of rivalry with his hero
and sought to outdo Achilles' exploits by his own. He also
encouraged comparison between himself and Achilles.
All of this is fascinating from a number of aspects. First and
foremost, it is yet another proof - as is repeatedly evidenced
by all great achievers in life - that the mind creates reality.
In other words, what you dwell upon becomes your reality.
Dwelling on a fictional account of heroism and conquest made one
man realize that reality in his own life and conquer most of the
known world. This was his role model and what he continually
fantasized becoming.
Secondly, in so identifying with Achilles, he effectively made
him a mentor. This is another common feature of highly
successful people. They all have someone they turn to, or seek
to emulate.
Usually, that person is alive. Even Bill Gates has a mentor. His
name is Warren Buffett; one of the greatest living stock market
investors and, like Bill Gates, a multi-billionaire. So if you
seek excellence in a particular field, the first thing to do is
to try to find someone who already excels in it and try to make
their acquaintance and ask that person to be your mentor. If
that person is inaccessible (for now), then read their writings,
watch their videos and imagine yourself doing the same. Ask
yourself what that person would do in each situation. Imagine
being that person.
However, if you have no living mentor who will do, you can
create one in your imagination as Alexander must have done with
Achilles. You can imagine your mentor performing at the level of
excellence you desire and then, as Alexander the Great must have
done, step into that person's shoes and imagine it is you
excelling and leaving the rest of the world behind.
It is so striking that all highly successful people do a huge
amount of imagining and daydreaming. Most of us do not because
we feel it is a waste of time and achieves nothing. Strangely,
enough, it could be the most important thing we ever do. Without
it, all our other "practical" efforts could go for nothing.
In conclusion, (a) seek a mentor in your field of choice -
either living, dead or imagined - and seek to emulate that
person's excellence; (b) imagine and visualize your future
vividly and continually. Imagine even the utterly impossible, as
Alexander the Great did. If you do, who knows what might happen?
Your vision of what is possible might just have to expand a lot
to fit a much grander design! |
