Julius Caesar was 32 years old and as he looked at a statue of Alexander the Great, he began to cry.
But why was this 32-year-old Caesar crying?
Caesar had stood before Alexander's statue in Gades (city of Cadiz in Spain today) while visiting the Temple of Hercules.
He was serving as a quaestor during this period, which basically means a low-level financial administrator.
Caesar was not good with money at this time...
He would spend lavishly and racked up tremendous debt.
In Plutarch's Lives, Caesar was supposedly crying because he could not hold in the pain he felt.
As he looked up at Alexander with blurry, tear-filled eyes, he realized that Alexander had conquered half the world at age 32...
Yet, he was the same age and he hadn't accomplished anything of note...
He had been pushing off the reality of his life for some time, but as he stood in front of Alexander's statue, he was smacked by reality.
This brutal awakening shook him to his core.
This was the moment that changed Caesar's entire life.
He had a choice:
1. Keep wasting his life away
or...
2. Take his life seriously and work towards becoming all that he could be.
Caesar chose option 2...
Where Alexander had ended his story (dying at the age of 32), Julius Caesar would begin his story.
After visiting the statue, Caesar traveled back to Rome to begin his political ascension.
And he never looked back.
Julius Caesar went on to conduct the first Roman invasion of Britannia (Great Britain). He and his army conquered Gaul and extended Roman rule to the Atlantic Ocean.
He also fought a civil war and won, claiming the title of Emperor of Rome.
Caesar ended the Roman Republic and ushered in a new age; the Roman Empire.
Yet, he was considered a Man of the People, being favored by the lower class.
He made all sorts of changes:
He built the Forum Iulium (market).
He rebuilt cities such as Carthage.
He decreased the national debt significantly (he improved his money skills haha).
Caesar was so highly regarded that he was given the title of Dictator for Life.
Unfortunately, as you may know, Caesar's life was brought to an unexpected halt, but that's a story for another time...
So, what does this story about Caesar teach us?
Well, you may not be visiting statues, but if you step back, you will see a statue.
There are teenagers in high school on this app making millions of dollars...
You don't have to look far to find extraordinary people on social media these days.
Sure, some are faking it, but many aren't.
If other people can self-actualize their potential, why can't you?
Deep down you know you have something Great to share with the world.
Your self-actualization lies in your own hands though, no one can do it for you.
All it takes is one decision.
One decision to face reality and strive to be all you can be in this life.
Who knows what you could build...
KNOWLEDGE
Reflect on your life.
Face reality.
You know deep down you have more to give... so take action.
Do not wait.
Take action and start building your own unique Roman Empire now (and no, you don't need to invade a foreign nation!).
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