Leading from the front

There is nothing easier than being a follower. But what the world needs is people who lead from the front, on uncharted territory.

I feel like I'm give a choice every day to either be mediocre and follow the crowd, or take the risk, put in the extra effort, and take the uncharted course.

The second choice is where innovation happens and real value is created, and I want to choose that path daily.

Ingenuity is forged in despair

In the book "1776" by McCullough, I was fascinated to hear about the timing of the completion of the Declaration of Independence. In the midst of the most frantic war preparations America had seen, delegates gathered to draft the most defining historic document of our time. The whole country knew that the full wrath of their enemy would any day be unleashed upon their ill-trained militia-men, yet the assembly in Philadelphia went ahead and signed a statement that made it as clear as day not only where they stood but why. Two days after, as word was being sent throughout the 13 colonies of the nation's consensus on independence, a British fleet of over 100 ships had positioned outside the New York harbor, outnumbering the colonists about seven to one. One can only imagine the distress and urgency of the time.

August 2014: I visited the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed
on July 4th, 1776 with my friends from Pakistan and Indonesia

How is it then, that such a profound piece of literature was able to be authored in a circumstance that would rattle the nerves of any man trying to write a sensible statement, let alone an unprecedented assertion of innate human rights that broke through all prior concepts of governance and civilization? It was only possible with the spirit and ardor of a people so committed to a cause that they turned the distress of the times into fuel for their passionate endeavor to establish their ideal nation.

Imagine if we could have the same attitude in our daily life, taking any setback or adversity as a test of our resolve and commitment to our ideals? Ingenuity and profound achievements are always forged with this kind of mindset, and this can be our lifelong habit if we determine it.

A privilege is a responsibility

A privilege is something that is given to us, not necessarily based on merit, but on trust. Whether it's wealth, social status, popularity, influence, or even plain old good luck, these are privileges God has given us with the hope and trust that we will use them to serve the greater good. In this sense, privilege entails a certain responsibility to be a conduit whereby more people can receive benefit.

Th opposing attitude when receiving privilege is self-centered, where we think that we deserve the benefit ourselves and others do not. Yet if we reflect deeper, we recognize that ultimately nothing in this world was of our doing, but was given to us as a gift with no strings attached. With this view, how can we claim anything we receive as ours and ours alone?

The only sensible attitude is to offer everything with which we are privileged for the lofty purpose of benefiting mankind.

I was privileged to eat this delectable sushi with my parents on New Year's eve.
This is my way of sharing my precious experience with you!

The one person you must always check

The one person I must always watch out for is none other than myself. If I cannot release my own ambitions, greed, lust, and arrogance, how can I take care of or guide anyone else?

That is why the greatest battle is always inside oneself.

Do you respect your parents?

Mom and I at Route 2 in Washington, December 2014

Without our parents, we would not exist. Our parents not only give us our identity but they create the healthy environment that allow us to grow to maturity. In short, we should respect our parents, if only for these simple, fundamental reasons.

But how do we respect our parents? In the Eastern, Confucian tradition, it is emphasized that children strictly obey their parents instructions, yet in Western culture based on Enlightenment-era thinking, children are encouraged to become independent, self-sufficient and find their own sense of fulfillment, however they may choose to find it. As a son of a Japanese mom and American dad, I think there is a balance somewhere between those two, but I think there are also are aspects where both of these traditions are lacking. I believe what brings parents the greatest joy is to see their children fulfill their deepest held ideals.

Why do I believe that? Because, simply put, life is short. In one life, there is only so much that we can do and accomplish. But if our deepest held ideals and dreams can live on through our children and our children's children as a family tradition, how much more joy and happiness will that bring us?

And what could bring a child greater fulfillment, than to bring one's parents joy that lasts far beyond one lifetime? Especially if the ideals are noble and grand, making a family tradition of pursuing those ideals paints one of the most beautiful images I can think of.

Can you feel the winds of history?

 

The signing of the Declaration
of Independence, July 4th, 1776

It's interesting to read about 'historical people', because we can see what it was about their mindset that allowed them to make such a grand footprint in the backdrop of history. 

One thing I have noticed is that historical people usually recognize that they have been given unique and extra-ordinary responsibility and they tremble and cringe at the thought of taking on that responsibility, though in the end they do so full-heartedly. 

George Washington recognized that he was the best fitted American of his time to take the role of commander-in-chief of the American army, yet he acknowledged in private letters the weight of the task and his feeling of being unqualified for the tremendous role, though in the end by all accounts he performed the job spectacularly.

Similarly, I feel that we need to feel the winds of history in our daily actions, recognizing the significance and importance of each moment in the backdrop of eons of human endeavor, if we want to make a significant contribution worthy of being remembered. That perspective and prudence in daily life is the starting point for any historical achievement.

Perseverance and spirit

"Perseverance and spirit have one wonders in all ages" -General George Washington

I'm reading the book, "1776" by David McCullough, and I'm finding it remarkable how true this quote by George Washington is when looking at our nation's history. The "rag-tag" colonies and the farmers and country boys who volunteered for the American cause in the Revolution were surely out-skilled and under-equipped in comparison with the British forces.

Yet as time and time again history has shown, the greatest strength of any peoples is their passion and zeal for their cause. This is a reminder for daily life that we should put our whole effort into any cause we undertake if we want to live a meaningful legacy.