There is an intense debate going on these days, one with two very noisy and depressing sides.
One side says, “You can have anything, just believe in yourself! Be positive, and your dreams will come true today!”
The other side scowls and replies, “It doesn’t matter how much you try. You can do everything right in life, and still end up at the very bottom. It’s a matter of luck.”
The first side is quickly becoming disenchanted as they realize there is no magic potion for success. The second side gave up on their dreams of success back when their teachers told them to be realistic.
But there’s another group of people–one neither side in the debate seem to have heard of. This group of people understand something the others don’t.
“Sure, there’s no magic potion,” they say. “But I’m made of the same flesh and blood as those ‘lucky’ ones. I have every tool and opportunity they had. If the opportunity doesn’t come looking for me, I’ll go looking for it. And I won’t rest until I find it.”
“The worst that can happen is I can fail,” they say. “And if I do, I’ll pick myself up and try again, all the better for my experience. Because that’s how I believe I will create my dream. There is one thing I do know, though: If I don’t believe in myself and commit to my dreams, I will never taste success.”
They know it’s not magic, but they know the ball’s in their court, and they like it that way. They embrace the responsibility. And they run with it.
They learn from the great teachers who deal not in blind optimism, nor in cynical pessimism, but in reality. The reality in which the brave, the determined, and the diligent thrive.
They learn from the teachers who have been through life themselves, and proved what they say:
“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
They learn from the teachers who understand that “luck” has a lot to do with how diligently you seek it:
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle
And they learn from the teachers who understand that there is more than one step to success:
“When you knock on the door of opportunity, do not be surprised that it is Work who will answer.” – Brendon Burchard
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