Lessons from Alexander

The price to be great

I’m taking time for myself. I procrastinate. I sleep a lot and watch movies.
My daily life right now is not the most exciting.
After working a lot, time to recharge my batteries and my sources of inspiration.

A few nights ago, I watched Gladiator and then I went on to see Alexander.

This movie didn't leave me a lasting memory at the time and this movie was never really loved as much as Troy or Gladiator.
And after watching it again, I understand why.
The movie is not meant to be a spectacle movie... But a realistic film about Alexander's life, his demons, his weaknesses, his victories, his ambition ...

The film is more a historical documentary than a blockbuster and this is probably the reason why it never had the success hoped for. If by starting the viewing, you expect a great show about Alexander's conquests and epic battles ... You will be disappointed.

The movie has some battle scenes but they are more illustrations of Alexander's character:
- Military strategy in the first one
- Courageous and valiant in the second one

The director does not want to show you epic battles... but Alexander in all his complexity.

He tries to give us a message: Alexander was unique.

Whether in his choices, in his desires, in his ambitions, the great Alexander never did anything like the others.
It is because he was unique that he was able to surprise everyone.
While he walked where none had walked before him at an early age, while any sovereign would have taken the wise decision to return in front of the fatigue of the troops and the mental exhaustion of his army... not Alexander.

He always chose to go higher, to go further and did not hesitate to go against his own advisors.

He had a vision and only his vision counts.
He had to have unshakeable confidence in himself to make his unpopular decisions.
And yet, he was right and he managed to carry out his plans.

We're not Alexander, that's for sure, but that's something I've seen in many leaders: they make decisions and even if those decisions aren't popular, they make them anyway. They aren’t afraid to meet their fate.

They know what they are doing or they pretend to know it, but they make their important decisions with unwavering confidence.

There are different types of people and ambitions.
The men around Alexander are brave men but they don't have his desires.
They have won a battle. They want to go home. Spend their money, live with the glory and live their lives as men.
There is no shame in that.
They have the reaction that everyone would have and a limited ambition.

But Alexander doesn't want that.
He wants more, he wants to become immortal even if it costs him his life.
He is willing to pay the highest price to achieve his dreams.
He has nothing to lose because he is willing to risk everything.

Not many people are willing to do that.

In the end, the difference between these people comes from their characters. From what motivates them and what makes them human beings.

Some want to live.
Others want to become immortal.
And between these two extremes, a whole bunch of different characters attracted by one or the other and sometimes even by both.

A second thing to understand is that Alexander is alone.
The decisions he makes lead him to be misunderstood by those who do not share his ambitions.
And as he is the only one who has this excessive ambition, who wants to equal Achilles himself, he is alone in this world.

This is the price to pay for wanting to be different.
The price to be called “The Great”.
He is the great because no one else is.

It is often said that at the top, you are alone.
You are not physically alone because you will attract a lot of people and success.
But you are alone on a mental level.
Few people will understand what motivates you because they don't have your ambitions.

The moment you step out of line, expect to be misunderstood, lonely, reminded that you are not on the right path.

If you are reading this newsletter, I know you are special.
Because if not, you wouldn't be reading it. You would have unsubscribed a long time ago because the words don't reach your heart.

You know that I am only talking to those who want more. Who are demanding of themselves. Who want to become more than they are supposed to be.

So I am confident that you will understand these words and this email.

I wish you a good weekend and see you on Monday.