I Don’t Believe In Icons

I don’t believe in icons — @theweeknd [I do, tho…]

An ICON is defined as__a contributing influencer, someone who makes a tangible difference on a measurable scale__standing out from the 8.1bn people on earth. As such, we often think of icons as extraordinary beings, but what truly sets them apart?

It’s more than just prodigious talent. It’s a perfect storm of fearlessness, mastery, passion, drive, consistency, persistence & discipline. ICONS are undeterred by failure & have an unquenchable thirst for achieving their goals. They feel compelled to share their message, believing that others too can be their best selves. They’re right!

But these traits are not exclusive to ICONS; they are within each of us too. We’ve all experienced or applied these characteristics at some point, even if in a diluted form. This means that the pursuit of being our own ICON is achievable for each of us.

The KEY, however, is not trying to be “anything you want to be” but working towards “BECOMING EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE” — a fundamental shift to the narrative of what we’re taught. It’s about mastering your own model of passion & not trying to emulate someone else. Your commitment & dedication to seeking & experiencing YOUR ideas to create your OWN environment of enthusiasm & inner desire to succeed at goals that align with your core values & what you are.

Breaking it down into small steps makes any BIG goal manageable. Each day, work on becoming 1% closer to that goal, driven by traits & abilities that you already possess. Hence, becoming an ICON in your own right isn’t just for the “distanced few”, it’s within your grasp b/c that status is:

▪️Sculpted by discipline, not genetics
▪️Fueled by purpose, not stimulants
▪️Educated by life, not institutions
▪️Creating value, as opposed to consuming it

So, if being one’s “best self” is what crowns an ICON with that title, then being YOUR BEST SELF, in whatever sense that is, must also mean you’ve got a shot too. In which case, I BELIEVE IN ICONS!

📍 East Village, Manhattan NY
📸 @rickdaynyc
🧢🩲@dsquared2