Individualism – a familiar concept but an unfamiliar territory. People have a tendency to follow trends. They want to copy someone who is popular and successful, hoping to bank on his equity.
Everyone wants to be famous but since most people don’t have a mind of their own or are conditioned to follow the herd, copying others is the only option they have.
These clones are not restricted to any particular society. You can find them in the lower class where the auto-walas dress to be Salman Khan or in a posh Night Club where all the girls are wearing the same outfit from the latest fashion magazine.
This is the case not just in clothes or fashion, but also in life style, politics and the business world.
There was a rage to name new borns ‘Aryan’ as it sounded good in a Shahrukh Khan movie.
A series of candle marchs were organized against the corruption but to no avail.
The new trend, of course, is to go on a death fast so that you get media coverage and publicity for something you never intended to do. And someone who actually dies in a genuine fast goes with just a mention in the side column of the daily newspaper.
Aspiration to be the next Dhirubhai Ambani is very common but without an idea and the passion to see it through, against all odds and market patterns, is just a dream.
Businessmen want to follow strategies that are widely successful and are afraid to experiment. They want to make money from the tried and tested, but how can you ignore the fact that new strategies can yield much higher returns with just marginal increase in the effort.
Experiments made our world what it is today. Comfortable and Fun. Beer was invented in 5000 BC by some Egyptian Pharaoh. Now how much does the world owe this guy!! Electricity and the Wheel were also just as important. So we should be willing to take the risk, or the leap of faith, as in many cases. Failing is just another episode in a grand success story.
Everyone wants to be someone, a grand success story, but no one wants to be their own person. They don’t want to be a trendsetter, just follow who is successful.
People want to fit-in. They want to be like the others and that is human nature but we do have a small section of people who think differently and these are the people who steer the generation of followers in the right direction. These are the people we look upto and remember for decades.
Normal People will always need Smart People. So step aside, here we come!
