Master of the world

On May 15, 2010, in Top leadership, by Neculai Fantanaru

Accept the realistic thinking so that you could see the consequences of your actions.

For a man who always aims, with perseverance, what really fulfills him, this thing means everything. Nevertheless, when his greatest passion, the one obsessing him, which he day after day, in every moment, maintains by himself through an exuberant enthusiasm and a total dedication, is to be a master over the whole earth and all the people, then nobody and nothing can stand in his way, besides his unmeasured vanity, which can even lead him to death.

Above human powers

The phenomena of the Great-Eyry, an inaccessible point of the Blue Mountains range, on which the alpinists had always neglected, caused anxiety within the whole world. Was Great-Eyry the crater of a volcano issued from the entrails of the mountain range? For the earthquakes were intensifying, and sometimes flames could be seen at the top of the mountains. John Strock, the police inspector, who was often given difficult missions, received the mission from his bosses to start an investigation. Rushing all alone in an incredible adventure, he succeeds into finally discover the inscrutable enigma.

Great-Eyry was actually the stone hole of a giant and powerful bird, namely of a flying, eagle shaped machine, Épouvante, built by an extraordinary inventor, Robur. He found a way of underground communication with the outside, which allowed him to leave Great-Eyry, leaving there his mysterious machine, a machine which could reach an amazing speed both on land and water, therefore, being a plane, a ship and a car at the same time.

Even so, Robur, the temerarious inventor, who was for some time in the attention of the whole world, on which extraordinary machine had been offered huge sums of money, instead of raising the profile of his invention like any other inventor, he proclaimed himself "The Master of the World". He was not afraid to fight against all humankind. Himself against everybody. He could use at any time his highly efficient device in order to get rid of any enemies or to harm anyone. There was nobody who could catch, find or touch him. However, he could bear down anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Who can stop such a man?

Even so, a genius cannot be defeated by a single obstacle. Only one force could finally defeat Robur the Conqueror, the one animated by hostile feelings towards humanity, the one gifted with an amazing creative mind, whose unlimited confidence in his own genius gave him an absolute safety: his great vanity. He could rise above all people, but could not hold in his impulses and attitude of superiority. Finally, the machine in which was the “fool inventor” was hit by lightning and ripped to pieces, when, driven by vanity, tried to fly during a storm.

Because of his pathological thinking (excessive and unrealistic) he could not see the consequences of his actions.

A ruler is only afraid of one thing: that someone else would take his place

Nevertheless, what would a Master of the World, a consummate leader be afraid of? Of his unmeasured pride? Of course not. Such a person can be warned many times of the traps which could be laid by his selfish attitude and thinking, he would never or very seldom take into consideration the warnings he receives. Because, beyond all doubt, a master is only afraid of one thing: that someone else would take his place. And only that. This is his greatest fear. He will always want the first place, to perfection, “the crown”, he will always want to rule over everyone and everything, and he will follow his interests with an immovable obstinacy. And the one willing to be in his good grace, will certainly be put to the test, preparing him countless difficulties, and if he does not raise to HIS expectations, or at the first evidence of disobedience, he will be severely punished.

Furthermore, I strongly believe that if there were a Master of the World, he would have, as Robur, a bronze heart. Having only one objective – that of ruling, he would never let himself be persuaded, he would never be frightened by anyone and anything, he would never retire in the fight for the “title”, that once won, he would like to keep forever after. With his dual instinct, that of a fighter and that of a leader, being both judge and lawgiver at the same time, he will always try to impose his supremacy, cutting and haltering as he pleases, always weaving intricate machinations against those wanting to rise to his rank, of the master of the World.

But however powerful he would be, a master of the World will always have an unseen, terrible enemy, who will always insistently hunt him, trying to lead him into making a fatal mistake: his own ego.

Conclusion: Any success, any praise is nicely tickling your vanity. However, this vanity must carefully be controlled because it can bring you trouble and it can even cause your collapse. A hypertrophied ego can create you a fake image upon your own activities. That is why it is important for you to be honest with yourself, to honestly self-assess your own strengths and under no circumstances you must think you are or may become “The Master of the World”, that you own absolute truth or the key to great mysteries.

Accept the realistic thinking so that you could see the consequences of your actions.

 

Note: Jules Verne - Master of the world, Editura Corint, 2001.