I want fame and power... money may follow
or
I want money... fame and power may follow.
I am not suggesting that quest for above is unethical in any way.
I want to look beyond the self righteous, rational, and conscious mind of mine to know what actually motivates me at my work; and if there is a cut throat subconscious rationale which actually works stronger and guides my work.
Whatever be the quality of my work and my contribution to the
world at large, does not the above mantra play a defining role in what I do and how I do it? Einstein, Edison, Shakespeare, Beethoven
or Van Gogh- all who attained fame or success in their lifetime or after; what
did they aspire for?
A love and commitment for what they were doing and
a burning desire to satisfy their artistic or scientific quest seems to have lead to their contribution
becoming so immense that they have been immortalized. If they had any faculties of financial acumen
and if they had designed the graph of their success consciously, is a matter that I do not know of.
I know for sure that today, the need to be recognized and to wield influence (by being written
about; by being seen in peer communities, on social medium and social circuits; by being on
committees that matter in terms of prestige or which offer one the satisfaction of being considered as eminent and also offer the power to
trade favors; or by being honored and awarded- no matter what the award or
honor is), is quite pressing.
I cannot leave the matter of being influential to follow the excellence in my work but instead I have to work consciously towards attaining the desired position of influence.
Fame or recognition seems to invest me with a high sense of self worth.
I justify aspiring for it; but I wonder why does not a good body of ones work, by itself, lead to the self worth, nullifying the
need for recognition. A peer review or appraisal and approval is more important to evaluate and correct my work but not to enhance my self worth.
I shall not probe any further.... for I might discover my true intentions/ motivations... and the pious garb may unveil my reality....
