Fame is Fleeting

There are choices that we make in life concerning what really matters. Our families, our peers, or cultural icons can influence these choices. If you are led to seek fame and recognition, understand that people will forget you! Our staff of about 70 has at least ten to twelve people under the age of 30. Due to the generation gap, there are times we older folks mention famous people that the younger generation has never heard of. Last year, I made a list of famous personalities and asked those under 30 to rate their familiarity with those names, and it was fascinating. The names on the list have made significant contributions to culture, some of them even internationally, but this generation was unaware of them — names like Jimmy Carter, Donnie and Marie Osmond, Hank Aaron, and Margaret Thatcher!

It doesn’t matter if you become a famous entrepreneur, celebrity, or leader of the free world; people will forget you. Except for your family and the Lord, almost everyone will forget you. We make unconscious choices in life that are aimed at fortune and fame, which we think are so significant. It is understandable that they seem essential at the time. In the end, what will matter is that we strive to be true to ourselves and live honestly.

Friend, receive this practical wisdom from Harry Truman, an American President who said, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I’ve seen how much ego, glory-seeking, and fame have ruined lives. If you’re able to give glory and accolades away to others, you can do amazing things.