Flying for all.

After years of scientific and mechanical dedication to the goal, he finally achieved his goal, his dream, his inglenook so to speak. He created a mini-airplane built out of an old sports car. It had begun years before when he combined his scientific background with his passion of old cars. Following careful study of aerodynamics and applying his ingenuity to the desperate need for alternate forms of transportation, he had developed a new vehicle—a type of hover craft replete with all the components of an airplane including lift, thrust, weight, and drag.

Although a scientific and mathematical explanation of how the machine worked is certainly warranted, time constraints will not allow such meanderings. In summary though, wings emerge from the bottom of the car, a small jet engine provides the thrust, the weight of the car is kept to a minimum through plastic parts, and being very small, any drag is removed through retraction of the elements. Upon reaching a certain speed, the thrust kicks in, the wings materialize, and the machine rises approximately 50 to 100 feet in the air. Further radar guided rays remind the driver, who is the only rider, to avoid telephone wires, towers, and various obstacles.

The flying machine was very fun, but also quite loud, very expensive to operate, and only allowed one person. As the inventor flew his remarkable contraption around, he began to experience a new and curious emotion. He had spent a lifetime working on his invention—perfecting it, molding it, designing it, and mostly, loving it. But as he flew above the rest of the world, he began to wonder if he were in fact, below the rest of the world. It was an odd sensation born out of the perplexing yet oddly penetrating realization. He was lonely.

He watched people at theme parks, he watched them at malls, he watched them on highways, entering buildings, going to church, attending sports games, and cultural events, and it occurred to him that his invention was primarily individualistic. It helped nobody and did nothing for anyone. His was a selfish and rather expensive toy that only served to exaggerate the loneliness he had experienced for many years.

Eventually, after the new had worn off, he returned his marvelous but selfish invention to the garage where it stayed. He again became an important part of the world and returned to society.

Although elevated and revered as an important and necessary concept for growth, Ayn Rand’s emphasis on selfishness as serving the greater good contains flaws. If your progress is selfishly motivated and serves only one person, the results are empty and devoid of meaning; for it is in altruism that joy finds fruition. Work hard and work often, but don’t work only for yourself. Invent well and fly for all.