This post was originally published in 2015 · Jacob M Hansen

I stood on a grassy hill, overlooking a long field.  Surrounding me in organized units were men and boys dressed mostly in black, with some wearing rank insignias.  It began to rain. We were gathered together as the fathers and brothers of a couple hundred 8-12 year old boys at a weekend summit where they learned about honor, chivalry, and courage.  Our part was to play the villains, and give the boys someone to fight against as their final test (which, of course, was our job to insure they succeeded).  

On that grassy hill we were armed with swords created out of foam and PVC pipe, constructed to enable harmless fun.  But despite the obvious fiction of our situation, I found myself getting lost in the moment.  

The young boys emerged from the treeline to engage us.  The skies were pouring rain now, split by an occasional blast of thunder.  A drum from high on the hill began to beat ominously, matching the water-spraying rhythm of swords slapping shields.  Wind tossed about our soaked hair and clothing. 

“Now this,” I thought, “is epic.”

We were all playing a game of course, but the circumstances appealed to a very basic part of human nature: the desire to be legendary. 

The desire to be legendary

I may not have met a relatively large number of people yet in my life, but I am certain that everyone grows up with the seeds of this desire in them.  As young kids we play princess and soldier, or superhero vs villain, wishing–even believing–that we are as powerful as our heros.

As we grow older we think a little more practically, but still connect with the heroes we see idolized in movies or books.  Why else do you think we read and watch fictional masterpieces? Is it the visual appeal or skill of writing? Is it the intricacies of plot?  No. It is because of the story being told. A story about a relatable person who becomes powerful and uses their power for good. 

As humans, we want to be a hero.  We want to be powerful. We want to be worthy of mention.

Most people realize this, but most people also fail to realize the logical implications.

Legends (and all generally epic moments) are created when two things happen:  

1. A person is confronted by a high-stakes situation, and
2. That person has the power to overcome the obstacles presented by the high-stakes situation.

Yes, I’m saying that part of greatness is circumstance.  Whether you seek out, create, or wait for these high-stakes situations to come to you, you have to have them.  I’m also saying that part (the greater part) of greatness is personal capacity. 

You have to be powerful before you can be a hero.  Thats a fact. 

If you get caught in a burning building, you have to be physically strong enough to help others to safety.  

If you discover organizational fraud, you have to be morally strong enough to risk your security for what is right.

If your company is on the verge of collapse, you have to be mentally strong enough to find a solution.

If your soldiers are fighting on the battlefield, you have to be emotionally strong enough to lead them.

If you’re trying to quell an angry mob, you have to be verbally skilled enough to persuade them to peace.

If you get lost in the wilderness, you have to be knowledgeable enough about nature and basic skills to survive and navigate to civilization.

Life will inevitably challenge you, but before you can succeed in becoming legendary, you must first become legend-worthy. 

Becoming Legend-Worthy

Personal power is achieved by diligent, directed effort.  Behind every heroic moment stretches years–sometimes a lifetime–of conditioning.  Like most other things in life, preparation is the watchword of success. And when it comes to self-improvement, the best time to start making changes is today. 

Remember that legends are created by both the circumstances and the involved individual.  You can’t always dictate your circumstances, but you can always change yourself. So next time you’re in awe of an epic story, channel that feeling into making yourself more hero-like: find your code of ethics; do hard things; overcome your fear; build your physical strength; expand your knowledge; establish productive habits; acquire skills.

Prepare yourself, and in time the legends will follow.