Camus famously wrote in his notebooks about the remora, a fish that swims poorly.
He believed their only chance to move forward consisted of attaching themselves to the back of a big fish. They plunged a tube into the stomach of a shark, where they sucked up their nourishment and propagated without doing anything, living off the hunting and efforts of the beast.
Maybe you know someone like this. The kind of person with few talents or originality whose only apparent skill is coattail riding and star fucking their way to success.
Because who needs hard work when you have proximity?
It’s infuriating. Especially if you’re the kind of person who actually does work hard to build their talents and actualize their potential and make a difference in the world.
The thing about the remora strategy is, it works. These little fish eat great, stay safe, get free rides across the ocean floor, and they benefit deeply from the social proof of being attached to the big fish.
The marketplace rewards them. And there’s not much you can do about it.
Therefore, the only useful response to this oceanic conundrum is, just keep swimming. Stop worrying about what the other fish are doing or not doing, and just keep swimming. Enjoy swimming. Be grateful that you even have the chance to swim. Take pride in your stroke. Revel in the gorgeous marine landscape around you. Surround yourself with other strong swimmers who love swimming as much as you do.
And sleep soundly with the satisfaction that you are building a fulfilling career on the foundation of your talents and values.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How does social comparison erode your sense of worth?
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Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.
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