Did Einstein Really Say That?
Why your story cuts through more than recycled ideas ever will
How is your relationship with content on the internet?
Do you believe everything you read or think the people who are quoted actually said those things?
Misattribution has become such a common phenomena on the internet that we mostly end up ignoring it, thinking it’s something too trivial to care about.
And with the advent of AI, deep fakes, and the like, we are looking at major trust issues with content on the internet. Talk about red flags, eh?
For instance, take this quote widely and commonly attributed to Mr. Ratan Tata:
“If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.”
When I looked it up, I found another quote as an African proverb:
“If you want to run fast, run alone. If you want to run far, run together.”
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Reads similar? You bet it does, with the only difference being Mr. Tata (supposedly) spoke of walking, while the Africans preferred running (because, obviously!)
Now, this seems highly unlikely to me that somebody like Mr. Ratan Tata would’ve changed one word in an old African proverb and say it like that.
I’m even more convinced of this, because of the following incident that happened.
At a special ceremony in HEC Paris in April 2015, where he was awarded the Honoris Causa degree, an interviewer asked Mr. Tata about how he came about the philosophy behind this quote of his: “I don’t believe in taking right decisions, I take decisions and make them right.”
He replied, “I am sorry, I’m going to upset you, but Facebook or Twitter that made that statement [mine], was never made by me.”
It was a funny moment, as the interviewer says, “That’s not you? Well, that’s awkward!” and audience has a hearty laugh.
You can watch that interview here.
With more and more of misquotations and misattributions, a swarm of AI generated and redundant content, soul-less listicles and how-tos, etc., the only way to cut through and find your voice is with your own authentic story.
Because your story is entirely and exclusively yours. The profundity of your experiences and the uniqueness of your perspective is what the world needs.
I couldn’t agree more with the saying, “YOU are the niche”.
One must build on that.
