The world is filled with ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
This is one of the quotes that are peppered through Seth Godin's Icarus Deception. How often do we look at someone doing something extraordinary and make a list in our head of all the reasons that would not be possible for us. They are a better speaker. They are smarter. They are a better writer. They don't have my family demands. These are just a couple of the statements I know are conjured in my head when I see someone doing something I label extraordinary.
Franz Schubert is a very famous composer. He wrote hundreds and hundreds of lieder (German art songs), symphonies and many other beautiful pieces of music. His ninth symphony was written a year after Beethoven's ninth though it was not performed until 14 years later. Schubert was so afraid of Beethoven's shadow. He was afraid of living up to this great's legacy and of daring to consider doing it in his own way. He quotes Beethoven's ninth in his own in a way that's almost hidden.
Franz Schubert was afraid just like everyone else. A composer who would establish a genre, that every singer will sing and the whole world will know, struggled with so much self-doubt. He probably felt like he was just an ordinary person and compared himself to Beethoven who he saw as an extraordinary one. In our eyes today though they are both revered.
That's one of the reasons I love stories that shine a light on the fact that all of these people are ordinary just like you and me. It reminds me that everyone started somewhere and they were all afraid of acting. They didn't just wake up one day and create their masterpiece. It was emotional labour that got them there, which doesn't take any particular talent just a willingness to show up and ship.
p.s. you probably know this one by Schubert, but I suggest having a listen to one of my favourites.
Being a Force for Good 