The Mirror of Public Perception

But first — explosives.

In 1867, Alfred Nobel invented dynamite.

21 years later, his brother died.

Newspapers published obituaries, but with one small error — they believed it was Alfred who had died.

So Alfred, very much alive, read his own obituary.

Here’s what he saw:

“Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever, died yesterday.”

Appalled at the legacy he'd be leaving, Alfred changed his will.

The fortune he made from dynamite, Alfred decided, should be used as prize money to be awarded to those who contributed great benefits to humanity.

Today, you know those awards as the Nobel Peace Prizes.

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Nobel had a rare experience — he was given a clear look at how the world saw him vs. how he saw himself.

“Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever, died yesterday.”

Do you think that’s how Nobel saw himself?

Or do you think he saw himself as an inventor who contributed to the greater good?

You can define your values all you want.

But your legacy depends on how others see you.

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Sort of sucks, right?

You can align your actions with your values, but if other people misinterpret those actions, their perception of you gets warped.

And while consistency in aligning your actions with your values creates a better chance that people will see you for who you believe you are, you’re playing a game you can’t win.

British anthropologist Robin Dunbar proposed that humans can maintain about 150 meaningful relationships.

If you expect the world to perceive all your actions the way you want them perceived, you’re relying on 150 lenses of varying clarity, scope, and thickness to all process what they see in the same way.

It ain’t happening. At least not like you want it to.

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Outside of a few relationships, most people don’t know you that well.

People are going to misinterpret your actions. They're going to form opinions of you based on their own perceptions. All you can do is do your best.

But the key to improving the world is recognizing that you do the same.

Every decision everyone makes is justified in their own heads. But since we can’t see the reasoning behind those decisions, we’re left to judge based on outcomes.

With the invention of dynamite, Nobel thought he was making huge strides in mining and transportation.

The world thought he was killing people.

In life, you have a moral obligation to align your actions with your values as much as possible. Understand that your legacy is largely left to the court of public perception, and do your best to make that perception a consistent one.

But more importantly, understand that everyone faces that same challenge.

Understand that you can’t see the reasoning that goes into other peoples’ decisions.

Understand that humans judge others based on outcomes — not inputs.

Understand that actions reflect circumstances — not just intentions.

Understand that legacy is up to perception ...

And you can always choose to see the good.