The Pursuit Of Greatness: Noble Endeavour Or Act Of Self Sabotage?

And more to the point, how do you know you're there?

Apologies that this is late this week - I am on the final countdown for house sale, and the day job has been demanding. Normal service will resume soon, I do hope!

Given that he has the appearance of being recently post pubescent and I’m hurtling towards middle aged, it is no surprise that prior to his role in the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown”, my knowledge of Timothée Chalamet was limited. It didn’t extend beyond knowing that he is in a relationship with Kylie Jenner (hope for all us women of mediocre looks that we can be transformed into something different, if only we had the resource to do it), and a red carpet stunt involving a lime bike (christ I even miss lime bikes). He looks to me like a boy in mens clothing, and hadn’t particularly piqued my interest. That is, until his speech when accepting his SAG award for best actor in the biopic, when he said:

I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness…I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats. I’m inspired by the greats here tonight.

Well those line, my friends, did pique my interest. Mainly because caring passionately about something, even at risk of never ‘making it’, it seems is culturally accepted as not a good look. When there’s a chance that one will fail at their chosen endeavour, and achieve merely ‘good’ rather than ‘great’, they run the risk of falling foul of giving the ick. The result? It is easier to not even try. This mindset encourages everyone to stay in their box, scares them off reaching or trying for something different, as it might just be social suicide. In Chalamet’s subjective world, what is cool is hard to define, but what is not cool is much easier to identify, and he recognises that the pursuit of greatness is likely in that category.

And the trouble with this is, it keeps us all small. Those who are by nature enthusiasts, to borrow a phrase from my dear American friend, herself one of MY greats, would rather eat glass and wash it down with battery acid than conform to this way of living. Chalamet saying his bit feels like being seen (that phrase is borrowed from the kids).

On the other hand, there is our old friend betterment burnout - becoming fatigued and tired by constantly striving to improve. And of course, how do you know you’re done? I have a friend who has had a long and successful sporting career. He says the hardest part of of his playing years wasn’t working towards the wins in his solo sport, but realising that he finally had to stop. Objectively, my friend was and remains one of the greats. To him, he maybe could or should have won one or two more accolades.

I spoke about my thoughts on this - all of them - with a trusted colleague. Annoyingly at 13 years my junior he already has a reasoned approach and good handle on such things. He is aware that I’ve ticked off some professional milestones recently, aware that I’m tired, and aware that I’m eager for our next project. “The difference between what Chalamet is describing and you is…(dramatic pause to lean back in his seat and place one foot on his desk, and then the foot other atop it, leans back, hands behind his head)…Chalamet seems content where he is at and is looking forward to the journey of getting better. You’re not, you don’t take time to enjoy it, you think contentment lies the other side of better. That’s it. That’s the difference”.

Damn that youngster, with his feet on the table. He might just be right.

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BY THE WAY - Chalamet IS great in the movie. The storyline lets him down a little, but it is for sure worth seeing, though I am a Bob Dylan fan to begin with. Here are my favourites:

Excellent Bob Dylan song #1

Excellent Bob Dylan song #2

Let me know yours!

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PS - turns out Timothée Chalamet is actually 29. I doff my hat to his skincare regime.

Until next week

Big Love

Una

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