It used to be that to win a Nobel Prize, it was a lonely and solo pursuit. That's not the case anymore. Over the last 15 years, almost every Nobel Prize won in economics and physics is by groups of people collaborating around the world.
The way great culture and commerce changing work gets done these days is not an individual activity but by group effort where geography or languages do not restrict harnessing skills, insights, and talents.
Being a noun vs. being a verb
“I am the Vice President of Sweet Tooth Vending Machines.”
“I am the Chief Marketing Officer for Acme Lollipops.”
“I am the General Manager of Candy Wrappers.”
These are all examples of being a noun.
These are statements for people who are telling what they are.
These people are nouns.
These are not statements for people who are telling you what they are doing.
“I am producing film.”
“I am innovating of grass turf.”
“I am solving medical challenges in the inner cities.”
These are statements for people who are telling what they are doing.
These people are verbs.
These are not statements for people who are telling you what they are.
Don’t always be a noun; embrace being a verb.
Make a decision
"You never know when a typical life will be anything but, and you won’t know if you are rewriting history, or rewriting the future until the writing is complete."
This quote is from Debbie Millman in her book Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design.
It's a good reminder that to make a decision, to make a start, to get going.
You won't know what the impact is or what transpired until the work is complete.
However, without the start, you'll never know when a typical life will be anything but.