A Man Needs A Little Madness

So if you've read this blog you understand that it is based on the story of Don Quixote. His desire to take action on things he believed in makes him a great symbolic mentor. 

Of course you can argue about his mental state if you'd like... 

I'd like to say also that life is full of nudgings. Where they come from, I cannot be sure. But Quixoting came to me over a few months. OK. 240 months. As the time to act got closer I had a number of big indicators. Signs. Telling me it was time. 

So I started writing both blogs (this + Tim's Strategy) and the nudgings come more often. I must be doing something right! 

Well, a few weeks ago, a good friend suggested a movie for me. Made in 1964 and starring Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates, the movie is Zorba The Greek. It tells the story of a man (Bates)who travels to the island of Crete to manage land owned by his deceased father. Zorba (Quinn) meets him in a bar prior to departure when the boat has to wait for weather to clear. Zorba is looking for work. 

There is a great mismatch here as the man is uptight. Zorba, on the other hand, is impulsive - an adventurous soul. 

Near the end of the movie, there is a great line I wanted to share with you that fits beautifully with the philosophy here at Quixoting: 

(Zorba speaking) "Dammit Boss. I like you too much not to say it. You've got everything except one thing. Madness. A man needs a little madness. Or else ... He never dares cut the rope and be free."

Hmmm. How much madness do you have?

Comments

[Arash Sayadi]

I loved reading this book and watching the movie when I was in my twenties. I recently saw it again in May of this year and carried the "madness" quote as part of my email signature for a short while.

The line speaks to me as taking risks and acknowledging the madness of trying something new that may end in disaster. This is the same madness that will make you look back and laugh at the failed efforts, knowing full well you gave it your best and took risks. It's the madness we need to brush off after a disaster and move on, trying yet again to reach our goals.

This is the madness that pushed Thomas Edison to experiment 10,000 times before he found the right filament for the light bulb, without ever quitting or losing confidence.

It's the same madness that pushes the likes of Warren Buffet to continue to invest in stocks even when everyone else is bailing out.

It's this madness that we should all posses to reach our dreams and truly live free.

Thanks,
Arash Sayadi
MBA, BSEE, PMP, CSM
(949) 302-2646
arash.sayadi@iengineer.net
http://www.iengineer.net
http://www.themarq.com (blog)

"If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you." Randy Pausch, Author of "The Last Lecture"

[Tim Tyrell-Smith]

Thanks Arash - Well said. This movie hit me pretty hard since up until late last year I lived life in a very conservative fashion. Always did the right thing - worked hard - sat in long commutes to the office, etc. The whole while wondering if there might be something more. There is, of course. And it is there for the taking.