He Created His Own Identity
2003 Boaz Rauchwerger
If you've ever found yourself in a position of trying to live up to someone else's expectations, perhaps a parent or sibling, you know what a tough road that can be.
It certainly was for a fellow named Ian. His father was larger than life, a war hero and very articulate. During his childhood, he and his brothers were instructed to pray that they could be as good as their father. Eventually his brother would become an academic star, a well-known journalist and another tough act to follow.
Ian was born into a wealthy family in London in 1908. His grandfather was a rich Scottish banker. His father, named Valentine, was a major in the army and a Member of Parliament. He was killed in World War I, when Ian was 9. To exemplify the family's social standing, Winston Churchill wrote the obituary.
Ian's mother, Evelyn, inherited her husband's large estate in trust. Although that made her a very wealthy woman, the trust stipulated that she would lose the entire inheritance if she re-married. Valentine wanted to make sure she remained his widow forever.
Ian's education, through some time in a military academy, was in England. He then studied languages at universities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It was in the small town of Kitzbuhel, Austria, in an environment that was totally different from the strict and conventional campuses in England, that Ian finally found a place to create his own identity.
This was where none of the students knew his war hero father or his academic star brother. The students only knew Ian as a handsome, rakish, cultured young man who had a great wit and confidence with women. Although feeling better about himself at this point, Ian did not have a clear vision about his career.
An attempt at the Foreign Service failed when he did not pass the entrance exam. After that, following in the footsteps of his brother Peter, he became a journalist, joining Roiters. Some writing ability was shown when he reported on a spy trial in Russia. However, he soon discovered how little money journalists make and sought his fortune in banking and by being a stockbroker in London.
When his wealthy grandfather died in 1933, he left no money to his grandchildren. The vast family fortune was unavailable to Ian until his mother either died or re-married. Both options seemed unlikely.
During World War II, due to his ability with languages, he became a high- ranking officer in the British intelligence. The war was good to Ian and proved to be a great foundation for his future work as a writer. Using his imagination, he schemed, plotted and carried out dangerous missions to confuse and enrage the Germans.
These were the years when he developed a certain "flair" in his work in Naval Intelligence. He plotted intelligence operations that, to some, seemed absurd. However, many of his ideas proved to be ingenious. Yet he understood the practical side of war – constraints on manpower, money and supplies. He took his assignments seriously and was always aware of the human risks involved.
His many memos and reports to superiors in the military reflected his special flair in writing. They highlighted his extensive knowledge of his subjects and a certain style and elegance in his arguments. Eventually, Ian wrote memos to William Donovan on how to set up the OSS, forerunner of the CIA.
He took charge of a British assault unit that was comprised of specially trained commandos that were sent on specific intelligence missions. The group worked behind enemy lines and had many successes. Ian oversaw the group's missions from his office in London.
Near the end of the war, Ian traveled to Jamaica for a naval conference. He fell in love with the lush island and decided that, once the war was over, he would escape to live in paradise.
It was in 1952 that he married Anne, Lady Rothmere, in Jamaica. That is where and when he began writing a series of books for which he would become world famous.
Take a close look at the pattern of activities for Ian and you might see a resemblance to a fictional character he created – Bond, James Bond, agent 007. Ian was Ian Fleming. For example, during a training exercise with his British assault unit in the war, Fleming had to swim underwater and attach a mine to a tanker. This act became material for the climax of his 1954 book "LIVE AND LET DIE."
Following his own passion for writing helped Ian deal with the lingering ghost of his father and the reputation of his brother. Perhaps there is a passion in you that can help you define yourself and allow you to get out from under someone else's umbrella. Maybe there's a "secret agent" inside you who desires to create some exciting missions in life by following your passion.
A Daily Passion Affirmation
I am identifying and pursuing that for which I am passionate.
Article reproduced with permission from Boaz Rauchwerger. You may reprint any of these articles in any publication or Web site so long as you credit Boaz Rauchwerger as the author and include this Web site address, www.Boazpower.com.