There are people who make things happen, there are people who

Hear now, O children of the future, and listen closely to the words of Jim Lovell, who, from the depths of his experience, spoke with great wisdom: "There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen." In these words lies the very essence of action and agency, and the call to embrace the power that lies within each of us to shape our destiny.

What Lovell teaches us is a simple yet profound truth: there are those who act, those who observe, and those who stand at the edges of life, bewildered, unsure of how things passed them by. The first group—the makers—are those who take control of their lives, who understand that success is not a passive affair, but something that must be seized and forged through action. They are the ones who make the impossible possible, who challenge the forces that seek to keep them in place and refuse to be passive spectators.

Consider the journey of Alexander the Great, whose name still echoes through the halls of history. From a young age, he refused to be a mere watcher of events, and instead set out to conquer kingdoms and expand his empire. It was not enough for him to observe the world—he sought to reshape it. His conquest was not driven solely by ambition, but by an unyielding belief that he could shape the future with his actions. Alexander was a maker, not a watcher, and in his efforts, he forever changed the world. His legacy endures because he dared to make things happen when others would have waited.

In contrast, consider the philosophers who, though brilliant, often remained in the safety of their minds, offering ideas without action. Socrates, while profoundly influential, spent much of his life discussing the nature of justice, knowledge, and virtue, but was not always one to engage in the world with his actions. His ideas shaped minds, yes, but it was those who followed his wisdom and acted upon it—such as Plato and Aristotle—who truly changed the course of history. Here we see the divide between those who think and theorize, and those who step into the world and create change. Both are necessary, but it is the makers who leave the most indelible mark on the world.

The greatest lesson of Lovell’s words is the empowerment they offer. To be a maker of things is to embrace the idea that success is not a matter of chance, but of choice and effort. One must take the reins of their life, knowing that while the world is full of obstacles, the only true failure comes from inaction. Action may lead to setbacks, but it is always forward motion. It is the makers who create their opportunities, who rise when others remain seated, who reach when others hesitate.

Consider, O children, the modern story of Elon Musk, a man who has defied the limits of possibility with his ventures into electric cars, space travel, and more. He is a man who has made things happen, time and again, by refusing to be passive or stagnant. When others saw the task of colonizing Mars as a foolish dream, Musk took action, spending countless hours and resources to turn that dream into something tangible. He is a man of action, a maker who has shaped the future, not by watching, but by doing.

So, the lesson is clear: to be successful, you must not be content with watching the world pass by. Make things happen. Step into the arena, take risks, and shape the world around you. It is not enough to wait for the right moment or to passively hope for success. Success is the reward for those who dare to act and take the initiative, for those who see the world not as it is, but as it could be. Let your life be a testament to the power of action, and let your deeds speak louder than words.

Therefore, O children of the future, let your actions define you. Do not be a mere observer of life. Do not wonder what happened, but rather, make it happen. The world is full of opportunities, but only those who take action will find them. In the end, it is not the dreams you dream that will carry you to success, but the steps you take to make those dreams a reality. Be a maker, for in making, you become the architect of your destiny.