I recently watched two documentaries: “AlphaGo” and “The Thinking Game”. I found one thing in particular especially inspiring. Demis Hassabis was explaining how as a child, he was in a large chess tournament when, during the end of a match, he wondered what would happen if all the minds in the room would dedicate their effort to something more grand, like curing cancer.

We can see now how his dream has affected people all around the world. But where does this drive come from, and how was it so intense?

I think that as a child, he was both very impressionable at the time as well as in a situation that was relatively intense compared to any standard of pressure. One most likely does not act on a similar epiphany as they grow older since they are less likely to be able to shed the constructs of their mind to such a degree. Add onto it the fact that at the time, Hassabis was playing at a genius level of chess for his age, which makes the stakes that much higher.

What can I take away from this specifically? I am not a genius, but his experience helps me realign my own purpose. The idea of fulfilling something meaningful or working towards a grander purpose is compelling.