“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” – George Bernard ShawWhen I first read this, I immediately thought that this goes back to a classical debate of being ideal against being practical. To challenge the status quo.
But do we really have to be unreasonable in order to achieve progress? Being reasonable implies practicality which denotes steadiness and soundness. However, progress originates from taking risks. But these risks are of course fraught with the dangers of regression instead of progression. For those who desire stability and are already happy with status quo, they need to be reasonable and should avoid taking risks.But one is forced to be unreasonable and take high risks, if one aims high.
And this is exactly what I did in the past. After graduating from college, I did not take the CPA board exams immediately since I wanted that my review expenses to be self-supported. In order to do this, I have to work first. However, the dream of becoming a CPA has never left my mind even when I was working. I got a job with a development bank in my hometown branch earning very minimal, but with huge performance incentives almost every month.
The bank is just one ride away from our home and I get along really well with my boss and colleagues. In short, I was very happy and satisfied with my job. But I was still haunted by my dream. Just before my regularization, I realized that I was able to save some money from the incentives I have been receiving from the bank. These savings were just enough in order to support my review expenses.
I was then confronted by myself to make a decision whether to accept the regularization at work or to quit my job and review for the board exams.One part of me is saying that I should take a risk and go for my dream while I still have the chance. But another part of me is saying that I should be reasonable. I should just leave my dream behind and stay with my work where I felt secured and happy. Besides, taking the board exams only gives me a 50/50 chance of achieving my dream.
If I pass, then I will prove myself that I’ve made the right decision. But if I fail, I will lose all my savings for nothing and worse, I will be unemployed. Practically, it’s like going back to square one since I don’t have that much work experience.Not to mention the disappointment my family and I would feel if ever I fail the exams.
It would be like trading a steady life with a miserable one! But then again, I thought to myself, this is my dream. I should always aim high. I know that my professional career will be a whole lot of better if I will become a CPA. All these thoughts played along my mind while I was trying to make a decision. In the end, I went along with my unreasonable side.
I just prayed a lot and hoped that fate will be on my side. After six months, fortunately I passed the exams!I finally achieved my dream. I was able to find a better job than my previous work in the bank. What surprised me more is that when I found out that this development bank suddenly stopped its operations just recently.
It made me realize that if I had taken my reasonable side before, then I would probably be unemployed now. Looking from a perspective, this somehow suggested me that fate will play more likely on your side if you are taking risks. I’m not saying here that passing the board exams is the ultimate progression for me as a person.Other people may say that it’s not really a progress. But progress for me is a personal journey which can only be defined by myself and whatever anyone else thinks about my progress is none of my business – it is theirs.
The human minds are limitless, boundless, free in every respect and more powerful than we could ever understand. They are unreasonable and senseless. Imagine if we could just all learn to utilize this power within us in a good way and be unreasonable, then we can all be destined to greatness!
