Why You Should Listen to Huck Finn

Mark Twain was a literary genius.

That is why every year millions of high school students around the country are assigned his stories and books to read. Books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn stand the test of time because they have timeless lessons and principles to teach us, year after year.

I have long believed that the secret to great people and great businesses can be found in great literature. (I also believe some of our greatest stories can be found on film, but that’s a subject for another post.)

The Internet could use a good hefty dose of literature.

I know, I know, call me a snob, but seriously. In my search for quality, I find a lot of junk.

Stuff that only adds to the clutter and to the noise of a crowded, crowded place that is infinite in scope and, in many ways, infinite in nonsense.

But back to Huck Finn.

In 1883 Mark Twain published the sequel to his wildly popular The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. And, like so many storytelling geniuses, he carried characters from one book to the next. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was Twain’s sequel to his first blockbuster. Readers gobbled up the crazy tales of these mischievous boys who seemed to constantly outwit and outsmart everyone around them (both would have done exceptionally well on “Survivor”).

So what makes Huck Finn so compelling in 2010 and why should we listen to him?

Several reasons, but primarily because Huck Finn above all else was a doer.

He took action.

He got results.

And in the business world, results are the only measurement of success or failure.

You see, no amount of wishing and hoping for things to happen ever makes things happen. Huck Finn discovers this early on in the story after listening to one of the trusted adults in his life who said all he needed to get what he wanted was to pray for it. He tries it, and tries it “hard.” But when what he prays for doesn’t materialize, he goes back to what he knows works — doing something to make it happen.

Now I am not knocking prayer. I believe wholeheartedly in practicing a spiritual life in whatever capacity makes sense to each person. I believe prayer can lead to amazing, amazing things.

But I see a danger in some motivational materials that encourage wishing above doing.

The key to true success is, establish the dream, but then get out there and go for it.

Do something.

Like Huck Finn did.

Twain lived and wrote during a time of major cultural and economic transition, in many ways like the one we are living in now. Through his stories, he showcased some of the glories of that shift and many of the follies. His character Huck Finn was the voice of reason. Of getting things done. Of questioning what was put before him as only a child can do.

As each of us gets deeper into our own adventure here online and in business, we could stand to listen to Huck Finn and pay attention to what is put before us rather than blindly accepting everything that comes our way.

Being deliberately selective and questioning the value of courses, materials, and the like will not only keep our minds sharp, but also keep us focused on what really matters to us as we move our goals forward.

It can be a convoluted world here online, full of meaningless distractions and empty promises.

But with a clear focus and plan of action, it is also a place where more dreams than we know what to do with can come true.