Stefani Germanotta, You Will Never Be Famous

Recently, I read about a now-closed Facebook page (a parody page still exists) called, “Stefani Germanotta, You Will Never Be Famous.”

If you’re unfamiliar, Stefani Germanotta now goes by the name, Lady Gaga.

As she was going to school and performing local shows, the page was created by some of her college classmates.

They posted some pretty cruel things, most of which I wouldn’t write here.

One of the tamer posts read, “Who does she think she is?” While another featured a flyer for an upcoming show with a boot print on it as someone had stepped on it.

To date, Lady Gaga has sold 170 million albums. She’s won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, three American Music Awards, ten Billboard Music Awards, three Brit Awards, one BAFTA, two Critics’ Choice awards, thirteen Grammy Awards, and eighteen MTV Music Awards. She also holds ten Guinness World Records for her music and acting.

At thirty-eight years old, she’s worth an estimated 300 million dollars. And of course, has millions and millions of fans around the globe.

She is the definition of “famous.”

Growing up I had a very close friend who taught me more about life than any teacher or professor I ever had. He turned me on to writers like Henry David Thoreau and Krishnamurti. He taught me to question everything, to think about my future (something I was terrible at), and about living life simply and beneath my means.

One quote of his that I always took issue with, however, went like this.

“Nobody knows anything about anything.”

I’d push back, telling him that there were definitely things in life that were certain. That it was possible to know things.

Of course, we were both brash teenagers, each convinced we were right. And likely, he was exaggerating for effect. Because, obviously, there are things that are certain. For me, my love for my children comes to mind. More broadly, gravity is a pretty good one.

But the older I get, the more his quote resonates.

If it’s helpful, remember it when people are questioning you. Remember it when you start to lose faith in yourself. Remember that some idiots created a Facebook page dedicated to how Lady Freakin’ Gaga won’t ever be famous.

Your doubters likely don’t know a fraction of what you’re capable of. And maybe, as my buddy believes, they don’t know anything about anything.