Page 6 - GENIUS MAGAZINE AFRICA 7TH EDITION

THE BIG QUESTIONS
THE

FRANK SWANIKER
very now and then, we come to a fork in the
road that requires us to either stay on our
Ecurrent life path, or change course and do
something radically different. These ‘moments of
obligation’ are usually caused by a sense of
outrage about some injustice, wrong-doing, or
unfairness we see in society or by an opportunity
that can revolutionize the world and benefit us
personally. The former is what Mother Theresa
probably saw every day in the slums of Calcutta
and the latter is what Bill Gates must have felt
when he saw the opportunity to develop
software for mini-computers in the mid-1970’s.
No matter how guilty it makes you feel, you
should ignore 99% of these moments of
obligation. You should ignore them because you
have been put on earth for a purpose, and each
time you go down a path that is not your purpose,
you are taking time away from preparing for your
actual calling. It is in rare instances?—?perhaps just
1% of these moments of obligation?—?that you
should actually follow the new path you are being
drawn to. So how do you know when it is indeed
that 1% moment?
Each time you are faced with a moment of
obligation, you should ask yourself three big
questions. First: Is it big enough? I believe that
those who have been fortunate enough to
receive good education, be healthy, have great
work experiences and powerful networks should
not be solving small problems for society. You
were lucky enough to have these opportunities so
you could help others. You should be solving the
biggest problems for the world, not small ones. So
if it’s not big enough, pass on it. It’s not your
purpose in life.
Second: ‘Am I uniquely positioned, more than
almost anyone else in the world, to make this
happen?’ Look back at experiences you’ve
had?—?some due to circumstances beyond your
control, and some due to deliberate choices you
t
made?—?o see if the experiences prepared you
better than almost anyone else in the world to
pursue the tentative mission.
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