The Full Story Of Alfred Nobel

The story behind one of the most celebrated and revered figures in history isn’t what you’d expect it to be. Alred Nobel, the man that they named the Nobel Peace Prize after, had a long career of being anything but peaceful. He was actually an ammunition and weapons manufacturer, invented dynamite, and earned a fortune fueling war.

When his brother Ludvig died, they mistakenly put Alfred’s obituary in the paper. This gave Alfred insight into the reputation he had built, the legacy he was leaving, and what his life represented. He was appalled. The headline read: “A Merchant Of Death”. This realization rattled Alfred and he committed to changing his ways.

He decided that he wanted to create a more peaceful future, not a tumultuous one, and vowed to donate the majority of his estate to support inventions in physics, chemistry, and medicine that moved humanity forward. It ended up being about 94% of his net worth, which would be valued today at around $259 million.

I share this story because we don’t know Alfred Nobel as the “Merchant Of Death” but as a pioneer in innovation and supporting innovative projects. It demonstrates just how quickly and significantly you can change your life with a new awareness. 

The interesting part about it all is that Alfred Nobel always had these aspirations to use his fortune for good. He just wasn’t taking action on them. Nothing significant enough happened to disrupt his present pattern and reorient his life. But something did happen, it initiated fast and radical change.

Whether you aspire to be a household icon like Alfred Nobel or you just want to get off the couch and take better care of yourself, the lesson is the same. There’s a greater calling inside of us, and we can either wait for that calling to be woken up or we can choose to step into it. 

I encourage you to think about what your version of this might be, how you might be scheming about your life without following through yet, and entertain the idea that you can be that person, and do those things - today. 

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