Privilege and Responsibility

As I get older, I am trying to be more mindful of the luck I've encountered and the privilege I've acquired over time. I know I was able to access opportunities and punch way above my weight because others saw something in me before I did.

Cory Booker once said, "You need to understand who you are now: you're the physical manifestation of a conspiracy of love - people whose names you don't even know who struggled for you, sweated for you."

All of us have the option to lean into this best version of ourselves that is being actively conspired by others. Think of whom you might become if you don't allow self-doubt to creep in and limit you. This is the person your parents, teachers, peers, and leaders see every single day. I've noticed it is easier to be kind to others than ourselves. So I employ self-distancing techniques (addressing myself in the second person, writing letters to myself, developing contrarian positions on closely held beliefs, etc.) every day to try and overcome my biases.

I hope everything nudges you to realize and accept the best version of yourself. If you want to accelerate this process, provide an asymmetric opportunity to someone who deserves it. It could be a meeting, job offer, pay raise, investment, or anything else you see fit. Why? Because someone else in power earlier had about just as little incentive to push your life ahead but instead chose to place a bet on you. All good things are born from this cycle of paying it forward, and I wonder what good you will make today.