GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT

The most miserable people in life are not those who have a poverty of property but those who are poor in legacy - Terry Mante

THE seminal book, Good to Great by Jim Collins opens with a paradigm-shifting thought: “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government.” In the view of Collins, “Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great, precisely because the vast majority become quite good – and that is their main problem.”

At age 32, American talk show host Oprah Winfrey became a millionaire when her show went national in the United States. This is the woman who later replaced Bill Cosby as the only African-American on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America at age 41 with a net worth of $340 million. Since 1995, Oprah has been the only African-American to have consistently ranked among the elite list of the 400 richest people in America.

For an African-American lady who was born in rural poverty and raised by a mother on welfare in a poor neighbourhood, that would have been enough achievement for her media career. That should be enough for her to say “It is finished.” Not for Oprah! She went on to syndicate her show on a plethora of television channels in more than 140 nations. For me Oprah’s life is an example of a great life. She did not just become an American champion (which would have been good) but a major international icon whose life and work has motivated many people to pursue various altruistic deeds. A great life is not just one that achieves success but one that becomes a source and channel of inspiration for others.

A great life never stops achieving. It keeps excelling and breaking frontiers. After 25 remarkable seasons and nearly 5000 episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show, she brought down the curtain on her show and moved on to establish her own television channel; the Oprah Winfrey Network. This is when she is just three years away from the legislated retirement age. A great life doesn’t stop living. It keeps going and doing. It keeps jumping and leaping. It continues living even beyond death. A great life doesn’t mark time forever. It marches on.

HOW TO HAVE A GREAT LIFE
TO HAVE a great life, you must have a sense of mission. You must know that your life is not just about having a great amount of wealth or a high level of education. Life is not just about having an enjoyable family life. Don’t get me wrong; all these are good but the real essence of life goes beyond these. Each of us must take note that there is a special calling on our lives which must be fulfilled before we eventually enter the tomb.

Second, you must pursue your mission with excellence. You must desire to go the extra mile all the time. Be willing to work while others play. Stay awake while others are sleeping. Don’t only aspire to meet people’s expectations; instead endeavour to exceed the expectations of people. In Matthew 5:41, Jesus recommends that “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles (NIV).” That is how to become great. Nobody would give you a standing ovation if you only do what is expected of you. But if you take the initiative to voluntarily do what is not naturally expected of you, you will be on your way to greatness.

And third, decide that you would leave a legacy. A legacy is the remains of your life. After all is said and done, how do you want to be remembered? Will your life be relevant 100 years after you are dead? Today people like Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Kwame Nkrumah, Albert Einstein, Princess Diana, Alexander Graham Bell, Helen Keller and so many are still alive in the hearts of many people long after their death. If you are thinking of a great life, don’t think about cars and houses. Think about your legacy. Your legacy will portray the worth of your life. The most miserable people in life are not those who have a poverty of property but those who are poor in legacy.

PEOPLE who live great lives are not always comfortable on the outside but they always feel fulfilled on the inside. Your quest for greatness will cost you enormous wealth of comfort. That is why in every generation only few people become truly great because not many are willing to pay the required price. Take note though that greatness is deeply satisfying and internally rewarding.

© 2011 Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana