The lives of extraordinary people are prevalent in literature and popular culture. We learn about influential rulers and watch superstar celebrities, and even base our beliefs on their actions and opinions. The word "great" is thrown around frequently, serving as fodder for debates amongst historians and sports fans alike. But what about ordinary people? What about Joe Sixpack, Hans Meier, or Tom, Dick, and Harry? No, these names don't refer to specific people. Instead, they are terms used in different countries to refer to the everyman.
The "Average Joe" and other similar terms use common names. This is to show how relatable these character types are to ordinary people. The lives and deeds of extraordinary people constitute a large part of our media. However, the everyman concept has endured as well. A play entitled "The Everyman" premiered in England as early as the 1500s. The character type continues to entertain 21st century audiences in television and film. These types of stories don't aim to present an idealized version of humanity. Instead, they feature average people doing average things. These run-of-the-mill situations appeal to audiences because of their relatability.
Then there are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Alannah Yip is one such everyman. Born in Vancouver, Canada, Yip studied to be an engineer. However, she is also passionate about climbing. She has been climbing since she was nine and won her first national championship three years later. She even ended up being an Olympian in 2020! Yip and Sean McColl represented Canada in the Tokyo Olympics. This was the first time sport climbing was an Olympic event.
Ordinary people can use seemingly ordinary skills and education to live extraordinary lives. Rohith Subramaniam has travelled by road since he was a teenager. An MBA graduate, Rohith partners with brands to sponsor his motorcycle trips. The most important part of travel for him is the learning and unlearning processes. Candida Louis is another biking fanatic. In 2015, she spent seven months riding over 34,000 km and through 24 states in India. Frederik Weidner chooses to live in a different country each year. Like Rohith, Weidner's life of travel is centered on learning. Sometimes he is a teacher, and sometimes he is a student.
Corina Grill came from a small village in Austria. She studied law and ended up volunteering in South Africa. She soon realized she enjoyed travelling in solitude, and has travelled around nine countries since then. She takes pride in surviving solo travel to seemingly dangerous places. Corina is just one of many people who have made travel an essential part of their lives.
Seldom does real change happen overnight. If you've been inspired by these examples to make your life more extraordinary, here are some tips to expedite the process. To start, extraordinary actions require an extraordinary mindset. Successful people don't allow negative thoughts to dominate them. Instead of focusing on what they can't do, successful people focus on what they can do. You may want to repeat a positive mantra to reinforce your self-worth.
To avoid the negative thoughts bogging you down, it's also important to be proactive. Set goals and create action steps to achieve those goals. By starting early on, you're not only closer to achieving your goals, you also won't have as much time to worry and wonder about the negatives. Plan ahead, so that you can stay on track and make adjustments if needed.
Successful people are often humble. They realize that others have valuable insights and skills to complement their own strengths. If you surround yourself with extraordinary people, you will be surrounded by extraordinariness. Just like avoiding the negative thoughts, cancelling out the negative people in our lives opens up bright new possibilities. And surrounding yourself with extraordinary people will motivate you to be even more extraordinary.