Very good and raw article. You can feel the author's angst and confusion about his standing in society and the need for recognition of who he really is rather than being defined by accident of birth. I think the lessons are applicable universally to any individual who feels alienated from their society due to the perceived need for conformance.

I loved this passage;

Someone told me not long after I moved to New York that in order to succeed, you have to understand which rules you’re supposed to break. If you break the wrong rules, you’re finished. And so the easiest thing to do is follow all the rules. But then you consign yourself to a lower status. The real trick is understanding what rules are not meant for you.

"Leadership" in a nutshell!