I was an extra in a Tia Carrere music video.

Hear the humble yet striking words of Adam Scott, who once said: “I was an extra in a Tia Carrere music video.” At first, these words may seem like a passing anecdote, a memory from the early shadows of a career. Yet, when viewed through the lens of wisdom, they shine with deeper meaning. For in this confession, we see the eternal truth: that greatness often begins in obscurity, that even the small and hidden roles can serve as the seedbed of destiny.

To be an extra is to stand at the edges of the stage, unseen by most, remembered by few. It is to take part in something larger while your own name is scarcely noted. And yet, to accept such a role is not shameful—it is the training ground of humility and perseverance. Every hero has their beginning in smallness; every master was once an apprentice. Adam Scott’s tale reminds us that no starting point is beneath dignity, for the path of growth is often paved with unnoticed steps.

Consider history’s testimony. The great writer Charles Dickens, before his name became immortal, labored as a clerk, recording drudgeries in a warehouse. The young Winston Churchill, destined to guide nations, began as a war correspondent, his words overlooked by many. Even the mighty Joan of Arc, before leading armies, was but a peasant girl unknown beyond her village. All of them, like Scott as an extra, began in roles the world thought small. Yet these roles prepared them, toughened their spirits, and opened the way for greater deeds.

There is also a lesson in Scott’s mention of Tia Carrere and the music video. Life often places us, even in our beginnings, within the orbit of art, culture, or greatness not yet our own. To witness, even as a background figure, the making of art is to be touched by its fire. Perhaps such experiences, though small at the time, plant seeds of inspiration that bloom much later. The apprentice who once stood at the edge of the workshop may one day craft masterpieces of his own.

The wisdom here is clear: never despise small beginnings. To play a hidden part is still to be part of the story. If you stand in the background, learn. If you are unseen, endure. For each step, however small, prepares you for the greater journey. The early roles of obscurity teach patience, sharpen humility, and forge resilience—the very qualities that make true greatness possible.

The lesson for us is thus: embrace each role life offers, whether great or small. If you find yourself in the background, do not despair, but recognize that even in the shadows you are learning the rhythms of the stage. Do not reject the opportunities that seem beneath you, for they may be the very stepping stones that lead to triumph. Let your beginnings, however modest, be honored as sacred preparation.

Practical action lies before us. Whatever task is at hand—whether menial, hidden, or humble—do it with diligence. Learn from it, grow through it, and carry its lessons forward. Remember that every master once stood where you stand. Just as Adam Scott once stood as an extra, only to rise later into prominence, so too can you transform small beginnings into lasting legacies.

Thus let his words endure as a reminder to all who begin their journeys: there is no shame in being an extra; there is wisdom in humility and glory in perseverance. Every step matters. Every role has purpose. And in time, what was once the background may become the center, what was once overlooked may become celebrated. Forward, then, with patience—your time shall come.