Reject the temptations of success, throw back the status symbols, says Dr. West. It takes courage to think for oneself, but is necessary for one’s own freedom and happiness. Bravery is necessary for greatness, and this is what we should strive for.

He said it before, the current generation will have to retrain their minds to look past success, and to look to a higher place:

I remind young people everywhere I go, one of the worst things the older generation did was to tell them for twenty-five years “Be successful, be successful, be successful” as opposed to “Be great, be great, be great”. There’s a qualititative difference.

See another powerful video of Dr. West speaking at Brown University. And keep in mind your vision of personal greatness, make it a habit of mind to retain your focus on it. Make life about more than just commodities. As the Doctor said, sadly we have to learn to recognize the nihilism and destitution that our culture encourages so effectively. And that’s where the fight begins. That’s where we begin to hack our own destinies.

Come hurricane and they ponder fear me a while.
With a nice breeze they love and bless me some time.
I comb the forest and I find resistance,
howl in the canyon but none take heed.
I’ve got sound but no voice to speak of my journey.
Grinding against the sky I wonder why.

Can’t blow away my rock-hard luck,
factor in the chills of guilt, monotony.
O, won’t you trade with me?
Because the lull just means I’m elsewhere,
and you claim all the stable ground.

Come hurricane and they ponder fear me a while.
With a nice breeze they love and bless me some time.

Many lifetimes have I spanned,
since rocks smashed to make the sand.
Dunes so far and wide, bringing music to the chimes.
Lighting urban skies I wonder why.

Guard all beasts from hot-headed brother,
life-seeds in my pocket, rebirth in my arms,
painting pictures with the clouds in the sky.
And the trees gladly dance to my rhythm.

Come hurricane and they ponder fear me a while.
With a nice breeze they love and bless me some time.