Be Inspired—Not Impressed

One woman was on the verge of hysterics because she was quite sure she was able to see part of his hand waving from her vantage point about 60 yards away before he was swallowed up inside the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. The visit of the 44th President of the United States—Barak Obama—to Canada marked his first official state visit to another country.

The visit mixed the challenges of our shared economies with the visual recognition of the office itself in these fledgling first days. Our neighbours to the north were drawn in to the message of hope that catapulted this bright, charismatic African American to the highest office in the world. Early in the primary campaign he was able to capture the collective hearts of a nation with three simple words:

"Yes, we can."

Now with the campaign over and his family tucked inside the White House, the dizzying level of expectations placed upon his tenure are crossing over a very dangerous barrier. The danger is of a nation and a world becoming impressed.

Here is what being "impressed" does: it creates limits and boundaries to what we ourselves truly believe we can do. It places those who achieve on a pedestal of promise they cannot possibly live up to and it detaches us from our own greatness and ability to excel.

In the same way that Martin Luther King and Kennedy and so many others rose to recognition through inspiring others, Barak Obama did just that. Make certain that you never allow yourself to become impressed by him or anyone else. You need look no further than the meaning of those simple three words that became the battle cry of the campaign. Yes—We—Can.

In case you were wondering, the "We" is you. You have it within you to do unlimited and remarkable things during your time here. The world is counting on you.

Have an excellent day.