Wayne Rooney kicking balls, AP McCoy riding horses, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams hitting balls, Michael Schumacher driving cars, Amy Williams sliding on a tea tray and Jessica Ennis doing everything.
The Rolling Stones, Kasabian, Dolly Parton, Morrissey, Metallica, Tiesto and The Specials.
These people/artists maintained being at the top of their game for a long time, winning the highest awards and demanding the largest crowds, so what does a rising superstar have to do achieve this lasting fame?
The two examples I'm focusing on here are the sudden elevation to deity status of Spurs and England striker Harry Kane, and the enormous expectation resting on the shoulders of band Catfish and The Bottlemen to dominate the music festival scene this summer.
I see three options for these two prospects to ensure their longevity.
Option 1 - Continue what they are doing now for the rest of their careers; Harry Kane continue to be a 25+ premier league goal scorer a season, Catfish and The Bottlemen to continue to write catchy and adrenalin pumping rock anthems that people love.
Best demonstrated - Novak Djokovic's refusal to lose and dominance of tennis title's and Morrissey's ability to write successful selling albums away from his fame with The Smiths.
Option 2 - Sell out to the big money. Harry Kane could of course move onto a bigger club than Tottenham Hotspur, earn more money than he could count in his life time and test himself at another club/league. However is it more important to first cement his place as the very best striker in England by staying at Spurs?
Catfish and The Bottlemen could sell out and start writing music aimed at selling records for the popular music chart, abandoning their loyal followers and fans in the search of increased commercial success and celebrity profile, with the help of auto-tune. This would be called doing a full Maroon 5. Alternatively lead singer Van McCan could audition to replace Zayn in 1Direction.
Best demonstrated - Gareth Bale and his move to Real Madrid, where he is yet to fully prove himself, whilst acquiring a strange hair do and Maroon 5 - got over 'This Love' quite quickly to dance with Mick Jagger.
Option 3 - Create or do something unforgettable. Harry Kane could win England the European Championships, or strip naked in a Tonka esq style from Mike Basset. Either one we haven't seen before.
A little tricker for Catfish and The Bottlemen as rock and roll antics have been around a long time before them. They either have to craft a song that will echo down generations such as The Special's 'Ghost Town', a song that people will remember for generations, pass onto their children and then still come and see you fill big venues in 30 years time. Or they could be outrageous and do a Kanye West - storming the stage at award ceremonies hasn't been done as well since Jarvis Cocker.
Best demonstrated - Metallica with their numerous classic hits headlining Glastonbury last year and John Carlos and Tommie Smith giving the black power salute at the Olympic medal ceremony.
What ever option these young starlets choose to go down, it is worth remembering that the career span and fame of a professional band or athlete only usually lasts 1 album or a couple of seasons/tournaments. Both are capable of lasting, but do either of them have the ability to do so?
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