I'm proud of my independence. And certainly from a business

There are few virtues as sacred and as perilous as independence. When Rob Van Dam declared, “I’m proud of my independence. And certainly from a business perspective, that’s always been a main agenda for me — to make my own position, don’t try and be like somebody else, because there already is that somebody else,” he was not merely speaking of a wrestler’s career, but of a universal truth — that the strength of one’s destiny lies in the courage to be oneself. His words echo the timeless struggle between imitation and authenticity, between following the beaten path and daring to carve one of your own.

In every age, there are those who seek to walk in the footprints of others, believing that greatness can be replicated. But the wise know that such imitation breeds only shadows. Rob Van Dam’s creed — “make my own position” — is the anthem of the free spirit. It calls to all who would live not as reflections, but as flames. To be independent is not to reject guidance or tradition, but to refuse the chains of conformity that dull the soul’s brilliance. It is to say, “I will learn from others, but I will not become them.”

In the world of wrestling, as in life, it is easy to become a copy of success. Every performer faces the temptation to adopt the moves, the words, the image that once brought applause to another. Yet Rob Van Dam rose by defying that current. He was not the biggest, nor the loudest, but he was himself — agile, fearless, unpredictable, and wholly original. Where others sought imitation, he chose individuality. His independence became not only his shield but his crown, proving that authenticity commands more respect than imitation ever could.

This truth has echoed throughout the centuries. Recall Leonardo da Vinci, whose peers chased the approval of patrons by painting familiar scenes in familiar ways. Yet Leonardo sought his own vision — dissecting the human body, studying the flight of birds, exploring mathematics, music, and movement. The world called him strange; now it calls him genius. Like Rob Van Dam, Leonardo refused to be “somebody else.” He knew that creation cannot flourish where imitation reigns. The independent mind dares to question, to experiment, to fail, and to rise again — and in that daring lies immortality.

But independence is not easy. It demands loneliness, misunderstanding, and struggle. Those who walk their own path often find themselves mocked by the crowd. Yet, as the ancient stoics taught, the path of virtue is narrow, and few have the strength to endure it. To be independent in thought or craft means to trust one’s inner compass, even when all the world points another way. It means to face the uncertainty of freedom rather than the comfort of conformity. It is to say, as the ancient heroes once did, “I will not be a shadow in another’s story. I will be the author of my own.”

The deeper power in Rob Van Dam’s words is not simply pride, but purpose. His independence was not rebellion for its own sake — it was a disciplined devotion to authenticity. He reminds us that there is no greatness in mimicry, and no fulfillment in comparison. For every “somebody else” already exists; the world needs you — your thoughts, your style, your flame. The main agenda of life, as he lived it, is not to outshine others, but to fully express the light that only you possess.

So, my child, remember this lesson: the measure of a person’s worth is not how well they resemble another, but how truly they embody themselves. Let your independence be both your compass and your creed. Stand firm in who you are, even when the world offers easier roads. Do not chase another’s shadow — build your own sun. For the world has no need of copies, but every need of those who live as living originals. And when you walk that path, proud and unshaken, you will find what all the ancients sought — the freedom not only to live, but to be.