the DUMBEST lie we're all told as kids

When we’re kids, we’re always told that “you can be anything, dream big, the sky’s the limit.”

It’s a nice message in theory. Maybe it’s even somewhat true.

But I think it’s stupid.

When you start getting to a higher level of maturity (which you probably are at if you’re reading this type of letter) we need to start asking ourselves a different set of questions.

So let’s assume we really can “be anything”.

What now?

How do you pick what you want to be, out of all these infinite options?

Most people would go to the thing that pays the best.

Or the thing they enjoy the most. Maybe it’s even their “passion”.

But I really think there is a fundamental problem with this approach - it is selfish.

We’re all brought into this world with different attributes, strengths and weaknesses.

Whether you believe this is because God gave us a unique purpose or not, that’s up to you.

But it’s a true, inescapable fact:

There are some things that you’re good at, and some things where maybe you’re not so great.

Usually the things that you’re good at and the things you enjoy overlap quite a bit.

But that’s not always the case.

For me, I genuinely used to love football, and still do. I wasn’t chasing this because of any potential future money or status.

I genuinely just enjoyed kicking the ball, perfecting the technique of playing the perfect long pass or curling a free-kick over the wall.

I loved the grind, training for hours outside with friends, pissing off my neighbours by passing the ball against a wall in the car park, honing my craft every day.

But unfortunately, I wasn’t that good.

I naturally am not fast, I had a skinny-fat build, I wasn’t very strong or agile.

And there were millions of people out there who were just as good as me on the ball or better, who were also much more athletic.

But at the same time, there are other things that I am naturally good at.

I always did well in school academically. I learn very fast. I’m a deep thinker.

(And as you can tell, I’m very humble.)

Here’s the problem:

f there is something that you are naturally good at, but you drop it to go focus on something else,

you are robbing the world of the potential positive impact you could have had.

You could have changed people’s lives in a very real, positive way - and you’re throwing that away for what?

“Vibes?”

I was blessed with these gifts of doing well academically, thinking deeply, etc. Gifts that other people would kill for.

And I was about to throw that away to become a failed footballer.

So instead of asking “what do I want more than anything”, I think we, as deeply conscientious and ambitious young people, should ask:

“What is my highest point of contribution to the world?”

“What’s the biggest impact I can make on the lives of other people, using the gifts I’ve been given?”

(And as a bonus, if you’re already good at these things, you’ll make more money too.)

For me, I’m still not really sure exactly what the answers to these questions are. I’m still just a young guy, trying to figure out the world.

But I know for sure that it isn’t football.

This has been a long-ass letter, sorry for rambling on,

But I hope you got some value out of it.

Speak soon,

-Yvan