[aespinoza]

Greatness comes at a very high cost. But to me greatness is not about money, or economic success. Greatness is a very subjective term.

For me greatness is about mastering my craft. Creating great things. It still comes at a very high cost, because practice is not free, and it takes away time from life, especially family time.

Now, Why? Look at life this way: Humans only care about the experience of life. Experience can be focused on family, money, personal achievements, material things, etc.

What you refer to a `great` experience is not really a `great` experience for another person. So `greatness`, IMHO, refers to the experience you wanna have. My great experience is becoming a master in my craft. That is my image of greatness. To Transcend. I trade time focused on my work, for time doing other things.

Now, there could be a person that has a vision of `greatness` that refers to being the greatest dad ever. That is still greatness. So basically, what I am trying to say is that everyone looks for their version greatness, and that not necessarily matches what you define as greatness.

[fuzzfactor]

This is very well said.

Sometimes there is a need to refrain from actions that would lead to greatness in one area, in order to devote the effort to greatness in a different area.

Or even just survival other times.