Embracing the Lessons in Failure by Standing Tall and Standing Out

The desire to stand out and achieve recognition can sometimes overshadow the essence of true greatness. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everybody can be great, because everyone can serve.”

This quote comes from one of his final speeches, two months before he was killed. Here is the full speech (thank you Martin Luther King Jr. Institute at Stanford):

“If you want to be important — wonderful. If you want to be recognized — wonderful. If you want to be great — wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness. By giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This message highlights a crucial distinction between fame and greatness, reminding us that real greatness comes from doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

When I saw Dr. King’s quote, it eased my mind. It is not so much that I want to be famous, as I want to be great. I want to make…