Ethos
Echoing on the System of values concept, it’s logical that I share part of mine. Although I wouldn’t have the competence right now to distill such complex thoughts into one post, I can at least try to do that bit by bit: starting with what I consider my ethos to be is a good starting point.
For each ethos, I also want to share an expression which, for me, symbolizes it.
Excellence
Never Settle
While anyone should accept that they are not perfect (as I talked about in Hope), I believe it’s important to aim to be. It’s a big part of what now brings me happiness, waking up every day and making a new step towards excellence. This applies in every part of my life: what is an excellent man, what is an excellent athlete, what is an excellent entrepreneur? Everyone has their own definitions for each, and definitions also change over time, but the least you can do is move forward in one direction.
Ambition
Be bold
The past few years I personally think the word ambition was negatively connoted, partly because some see personal ambition as a means to take what’s not theirs (i.e. crushing others for your own gain), which is zero-sum thinking that I don’t agree with. I think it’s okay to say that you want to be the best.
Ambition is about proving to the world that you can. You can achieve great things; sometimes it will be against the odds, requiring long and sustained efforts. Sometimes being delusional about it, but some of the greatest wonders are the result of one person who had a crazy idea and went on to make it reality.
Humble
Memento mori
While aiming to be great is fine, one must acknowledge that the journey has no end. There is no point in comparing distance from a starting point when every journey is unique; making fun of someone because they aren’t moving forward is foolish because you might be few seconds away from doing the same thing.
What you must do is inspire others to move forward in their own journey, making part of the journey with them and reminding yourself that all paths split at some point.