Ben Wilson

It's such a big deal that as you're celebrating this triumph, they have a slave who stands behind you in the chariot and just whispers in your ear, remember, you are mortal because Because it's such an amazing celebration that you could be tempted to forget that you're immortal and think that you're a god. Okay? This is the honor that anyone would aspire to as the pinnacle of their career.

It's such a big deal that as you're celebrating this triumph, they have a slave who stands behind you in the chariot and just whispers in your ear, remember, you are mortal because Because it's such an amazing celebration that you could be tempted to forget that you're immortal and think that you're a god. Okay? This is the honor that anyone would aspire to as the pinnacle of their career.

However, Julius Caesar wanted to be the greatest man in Rome. And part of that meant that he needed to be consul. It was the highest position you could hold in Roman government. And he had not been consul yet. And so he comes back from his military service in Spain. They have approved a triumph for him, but he also wants to run for consul.

However, Julius Caesar wanted to be the greatest man in Rome. And part of that meant that he needed to be consul. It was the highest position you could hold in Roman government. And he had not been consul yet. And so he comes back from his military service in Spain. They have approved a triumph for him, but he also wants to run for consul.

And there's a conflict there, which is if he wants to celebrate a triumph, he can't enter the city walls, can't come inside the city gates until the triumph is ready to be celebrated. As soon as you enter the city gates, you forfeit the ability to celebrate a triumph. At the same time, if he wants to run for consul, he has to actually physically stand for office inside the city. Okay.

And there's a conflict there, which is if he wants to celebrate a triumph, he can't enter the city walls, can't come inside the city gates until the triumph is ready to be celebrated. As soon as you enter the city gates, you forfeit the ability to celebrate a triumph. At the same time, if he wants to run for consul, he has to actually physically stand for office inside the city. Okay.

So if he goes in to run for consul, he's going to forfeit his triumph. If he waits to celebrate his triumph, he's not gonna be able to run for consul. And. He knows his vision, which is to be the greatest man in Rome. And if he's going to be the greatest man in Rome, his story does not end here with a celebration of this triumph. So he petitions the Roman Senate, can I do both?

So if he goes in to run for consul, he's going to forfeit his triumph. If he waits to celebrate his triumph, he's not gonna be able to run for consul. And. He knows his vision, which is to be the greatest man in Rome. And if he's going to be the greatest man in Rome, his story does not end here with a celebration of this triumph. So he petitions the Roman Senate, can I do both?

Can I run in absentia while I wait outside the city gates? And they vote on it and they say no. The second he hears that he can't do that, he marches through the city gates, forfeits his triumph, runs for consul, wins, and the rest is history. He becomes Julius Caesar.

Can I run in absentia while I wait outside the city gates? And they vote on it and they say no. The second he hears that he can't do that, he marches through the city gates, forfeits his triumph, runs for consul, wins, and the rest is history. He becomes Julius Caesar.

The point is he gives up an exciting opportunity celebrating this triumph in order to continue going down the road of his ultimate vision. It also reminds me of a story about Arnold Schwarzenegger. He moves to America and his goal is to become a major A-list actor. And he keeps swinging and striking out on all these opportunities to act because he's got this Austrian accent, right?

The point is he gives up an exciting opportunity celebrating this triumph in order to continue going down the road of his ultimate vision. It also reminds me of a story about Arnold Schwarzenegger. He moves to America and his goal is to become a major A-list actor. And he keeps swinging and striking out on all these opportunities to act because he's got this Austrian accent, right?

And he's working out. He's actually laying bricks just to make ends meet. And he's given the opportunity to be the CEO of a major gym chain. Jack LaLanne has this chain of gyms and he wants Arnold to come be his CEO. And that's going to come with a lot of money, a huge salary. And, you know, he's barely scraping by and he says no. Why does he say no?

And he's working out. He's actually laying bricks just to make ends meet. And he's given the opportunity to be the CEO of a major gym chain. Jack LaLanne has this chain of gyms and he wants Arnold to come be his CEO. And that's going to come with a lot of money, a huge salary. And, you know, he's barely scraping by and he says no. Why does he say no?

Because that's not a part of his long-term vision. And so of course he waits and eventually he is able to get the roles that he wants and becomes a great actor. And so if you settle for these lesser opportunities, then you miss out on your ultimate destiny.

Because that's not a part of his long-term vision. And so of course he waits and eventually he is able to get the roles that he wants and becomes a great actor. And so if you settle for these lesser opportunities, then you miss out on your ultimate destiny.

So you have to stick to that vision, even when it means saying no to great opportunities that don't necessarily align with what you're trying to do.

So you have to stick to that vision, even when it means saying no to great opportunities that don't necessarily align with what you're trying to do.

Okay, well, it is shortly after he has made this decision to wind down their war contracting business that Land is on vacation in Santa Fe, and he's trying to think of a killer consumer product they can develop that will keep all these people employed that they hired during World War II. This is the story I told at the beginning.

Okay, well, it is shortly after he has made this decision to wind down their war contracting business that Land is on vacation in Santa Fe, and he's trying to think of a killer consumer product they can develop that will keep all these people employed that they hired during World War II. This is the story I told at the beginning.