My Learnings: #36

Inspiration strikes me from the unlikeliest corners, perhaps because I spend so much time lost in my own thoughts. I’ve never quite fit in with the crowd—solitude suits me, and I relish the freedom to muse uninterrupted. One figure who unexpectedly lights a spark in me, especially when facing adversity or suppression, is Tom Petty. A wiry musician, no taller than 5’9” and weighing perhaps 150 pounds, he hardly seemed imposing—yet his song “I Won’t Back Down” carries a defiant weight that belies his frame. Often hailed as an anthem of resilience, it’s a rallying cry for standing firm in your beliefs. The line “You can stand me up at the gates of Hell, but I won’t back down” is pure, unyielding defiance—a defiant stance to control, tyranny, or any force trying to break you. It’s no wonder Florida Gator football fans belt it out in unison when it blasts through stadium speakers, their voices merging into a roar of collective grit. Every now and then, something will remind me of this song and I will pull up a YouTube clip of that crowd singing along, and it never fails to lift me. I’ve long told myself, “The world breaks before you do,” and Petty’s words echo that conviction.

Then there’s another gem from his catalog—“Runnin’ Down a Dream.” The full lyrics don’t entirely resonate with me, but that one phrase does it for me. My life often feels like a relentless plow through mountains of work—providing for my family, my team, and everyone counting on me—but beneath it all, I carry a dream, a vivid vision of the life and legacy I’m chasing. “Runnin’ down a dream” paints a picture of fierce, focused effort, each step pulling me closer to that goal. What excites me most is where I stand now: I genuinely believe I’ll see that vision come to life before my time’s up. That certainty fuels me, turning the grind into a thrilling pursuit. Petty, with his lean build and outsized spirit, reminds us all that strength isn’t about size—it’s about resolve, about chasing what matters, and never letting the world drag you off course. Life is very difficult. Viewing it as a stubborn march forward towards your dreams in the face of resistance is a way I choose to look at it and that inspires me.