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    Born Original, Lived a Copy: Embrace Your Story and Live You
    Born Original, Lived a Copy: Embrace Your Story and Live You
    Born Original, Lived a Copy: Embrace Your Story and Live You
    Ebook134 pages1 hour

    Born Original, Lived a Copy: Embrace Your Story and Live You

    By Prince Ampomah

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    About this ebook

    Are you living your originality or living as a copy of someone's story? The relevance and magnitude of this question have an inescapable effect on our society today. I believe in man's search for meaning and purpose; this is the most important question our generation must confront. Today's information age has thrust humanity into a very delicate phase of our evolution as humans. A phase propelled by earth-shattering advances in technology and artificial intelligence ushered in man's most fascinating friend and foe: social media. I believe the most profound question that our generation must confront is this: why has the temptation to unfold our lives as a copy of someone's life become so irresistible in these times? I believe there are many answers to this question, but I am convinced that chief among the answers is the fact that many people have stopped believing in the uniqueness and relevance of their stories, either because of societal pressures or personal circumstances.

    Born Original, Lived a Copy is an invitation to embrace the power of your authenticity and live a life that is true to your own desires, values, and dreams. It is a call to action for all those who yearn for a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and freedom. This book is an exploration of the profound journey we undertake in discovering our true identity amid the pressures of society. It delves into the universal struggles we face as individuals, seeking to reconcile our innate desire for self-expression without the fear of judgment and rejection. Born Original, Lived a Copy reminds us that we are born into this world as distinct beings, with a myriad of untapped potentials waiting to be unleashed.

    Born Original, Lived a Copy is a call to live you.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNewman Springs Publishing, Inc.
    Release dateJul 26, 2024
    ISBN9798890615237
    Born Original, Lived a Copy: Embrace Your Story and Live You

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      Book preview

      Born Original, Lived a Copy - Prince Ampomah

      Table of Contents

      Title

      Copyright

      Preface

      Prologue

      Introduction

      Chapter 1: Uncaused, Unplanned, and Unannounced

      Chapter 2: What's Your Story?

      Chapter 3: Illuminate Your Story

      Chapter 4: Brighten the Corner Where You Are

      Chapter 5: Attitude Determines Altitude

      Chapter 6: Much More Valuable

      Chapter 7: Who Has the Pen?

      Chapter 8: Unveiling the Power Within

      Chapter 9: Priceless Piece of Artwork

      Chapter 10: Eight Billion Lanes

      Chapter 11: A Dent in the Universe

      Chapter 12: Your Story—a Benchmark

      Chapter 13: Your Story—a Bridge or Barrier

      Chapter 14: Start Living You

      Chapter 15: Overcoming Challenges to Living Your Authenticity

      Epilogue: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Empowerment

      About the Author

      cover.jpg

      Born Original, Lived a Copy

      Embrace Your Story and Live You

      Prince Ampomah

      Copyright © 2024 Prince Ampomah

      All rights reserved

      First Edition

      NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

      320 Broad Street

      Red Bank, NJ 07701

      First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2024

      ISBN 979-8-89061-522-0 (Paperback)

      ISBN 979-8-89308-752-9 (Hardcover)

      ISBN 979-8-89061-523-7 (Digital)

      Printed in the United States of America

      To Oriana, my wife of fourteen years, and our two beautiful children, Japheth Kwadwo Ampomah and Leilani Tenegyaa Ampomah.

      Preface

      Iam unwaveringly convinced that the truest, most fulfilling version of one's life unfolds when they wholeheartedly embrace the entirety of their unique story and live their originality. My own story has taken me across vast distances, traversing both national and continental borders. This has uniquely granted me the extraordinary privilege of experimenting with the concept of living one's originality within diverse environments, settings, geographies, and cultures.

      The decision to undertake writing the book Born Original, Lived a Copy stemmed from two cardinal points: a deep conviction that true success and significance are found in living the purest version of yourself—your originality, and secondly, a deep-seated concern about the pervasive societal pressure to conform and the subsequent stifling of individual creativity. The chief aim that anchors my motivation for pulling a book together is to inspire readers to embrace their unique identities and pursue their authentic paths rather than succumbing to the homogenizing influences of contemporary culture.

      It is no secret that today's fast-paced and increasingly interconnected world exerts significant pressure on us to conform to societal norms, trends, and expectations. The results are oftentimes loss of individuality and authentic self-expression. Born Original, Lived a Copy is relevant for readers today as it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring one's unique voice, ideas, and experiences. It encourages readers to break free from the constraints of conformity, fostering a culture that values originality, diversity, and the courageous pursuit of one's passions and dreams.

      The main material from this book comes from conversations with people from all walks of life, my own lived experiences, extensive research on societal patterns, and observations I have captured in mostly historically influential characters as well as modern-day characters.

      Prologue

      Aseven teenth-century English poet, dramatist, and literary critic, Edward Young, penned a timeless question in one of his most famous quotes: We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies? Two hundred and sixty years after his death, the relevancy and magnitude of his question are palpable in our world today, and its impacts on all lives are inescapable. The strength of his question is evident in our current social construct, which is hopelessly dependent on advanced technology and besotted by social media fantasy and sensationalism. I am con vinced that if there was ever a time when his quote was ever so relevant, that time is now.

      Today's information age has thrust humanity into a very delicate phase of our evolution as humans. A phase propelled by earth-shattering advances in technology and artificial intelligence that has ushered in man's most fascinating friend and foe—social media. A phase where conformity and pursuit of societal acceptance often seem to reign supreme, where societal norms and expectations mold us into mere replicas of one another. A universe where people get to experience and observe how others, iconic figures, and celebrities live their lives through the lens of readily accessible technology in their hands. A phase that has unearthed the ubiquity of our existence, which is man's insatiable desire to authenticate his story, gain validation from the world, and the extent to which he/she will go to get that validation. A phase where many people have abandoned their originality and now strive to live as a copy of someone they admire, and sadly, so many people have died trying to live as a copy of that person they most admire.

      In today's social media world, the temptation to live as a copy in order to elevate the relevance of your story is alluring and intoxicating. It is very easy to live your story as a version of someone's life and miss the opportunity to leverage your uniqueness to make a dent in this universe.

      I believe the most profound question that our generation must confront is this: why has the temptation to unfold your life as a copy of someone's life become so irresistible in these times? I believe there are many answers to this question, but I am convinced that chief among the answers is the fact that many people have stopped believing in the relevancy of their stories, either because of societal pressures or personal circumstances. We all yearn to break free from the shackles of conformity, to carve our own paths, and to embrace the unique essence that sets us apart. It is within this context that Born Original, Lived a Copy unfolds, urging us to rediscover and celebrate our authentic selves.

      This book is an exploration of the profound journey we undertake in discovering our true identity amidst the pressures of society. It delves into the universal struggles we face as individuals, seeking to reconcile our innate desire for self-expression without the fear of judgment and rejection. Born Original, Lived a Copy reminds us that we are born into this world as distinct beings, with a myriad of untapped potentials waiting to be unleashed.

      Introduction

      All stories count toward the greater good of this world, but many have resolved their destiny around a false narrative that no matter how much they try, their story will remain perpetually inferior to others. This notion that your story is perpetually inferior and hence the need to live as a copy of someone is what I aim to dispel with this book and to use research and many real-life examples to prove a key point: the best version of your life is lived when you embrace the totality of your story and what makes it unique . Drawing inspiration from the words of Oscar Wilde, who once remarked, Be yourself; everyone else is already taken, this book embarks on a transformative quest, guiding readers toward a path of self-discovery and self-acceptance. It challenges us to shed the masks we wear, the facades we adopt, and the roles we play, encouraging us to stand unapologetically in our own truth.

      The concepts and ideas I share in this book are not buried in ancient text, hidden in the vaults of an ancient tomb, but rather within everyone's reach, an answer that is naturally woven into the fabric of our originality.

      In this book, I evoke captivating stories, insightful anecdotes, and thought-provoking reflections to illustrate the power of embracing authenticity and the impact it can have on our lives. I invite you to reclaim your voice, embrace your quirks, and express yourselves fully, without reservation or compromise. In doing so, it teaches us that living as a copy of someone else may be safe, but it will never truly fulfill us. I invite you to come along with me to discuss the secrets to living a fulfilled and meaningful life. If you have ever doubted the validity of your story and the power of your uniqueness to change this world for the better, I invite you to come along with me to explore the keys to living your originality. I hope to use the stories and chapters to challenge you to embrace your story and to embrace who you are. No matter where you are in life, the world is waiting to discover you.

      Having lived, schooled, and worked on four different continents and experienced the privilege of interacting with several cultures from all over the world, I am convinced my discovery is pertinent and compelling. Wherever I have been, I have enjoyed the unique privilege of testing my theory—encouraging people to embrace their story, their uniqueness, and drawing authenticity out of others using my own authenticity. In some cases, I have witnessed firsthand the transformation people have gone through after I encouraged them to embrace their stories.

      The desire to make a dent or impact human life is ubiquitous, but most people don't know how. I am convinced it's directly tied to embracing who you are and the totality of your story, regardless of where it is. I will evoke both historic and modern-day stories and personalities like Andrea Bocelli, Fanny Crosby (blind at six weeks, she wrote eight hundred American hymns), Josh Groban, George Washington, and many more examples to accentuate my theory about embracing your story and your uniqueness. I have successfully tested the theory on the teams I have led in the past and lead now, using a relentless approach to drawing authenticity and uniqueness from each team

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