Just Write Communications
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Clients
  • Testimonials
  • Writing Tips
  • Weekly Chuckle
  • Meals We Steal
  • Bad Golf

Perpetuated Myth

2/2/2014

0 Comments

 
There’s a longstanding myth that you can be anything you want in life.  The reality is:  You can’t.  We need to quit lying to ourselves.

This myth has been perpetuated year after year.  It’s so insinuated into U.S. culture that it’s hard to separate the concept out and look at it logically and realistically for what it really is.

We grow up being told if we work hard enough, study, play by the rules, then certain rewards will accrue.  I’m a strong believer in putting the time and effort into learning and becoming a better employee as we move into the workforce, whether it’s straight from high school, after a stint in the military or college.  The more we contribute, the more we should earn, and we should receive more flexibility and authority within our jobs.

At the same time, you can’t just be anything.  No matter how much I would work at it, I’m not going to be a good auto mechanic, software engineer or physicist.  My mind doesn’t work that way. 

Pick any person or look inside yourself, and you can say something similar.  Some things we are good at, and we can develop those talents over the years.  We are weak in other areas, and if we are honest with ourselves, we know we shouldn’t pursue certain professions -- that would be a disaster.

Given the divide between gurus who say “you can be anything” and reality of life, is it any wonder our society seems so schizophrenic?  When you have a lot of people thinking they can be something they can’t, there are many unrealized expectations, and dangerous personalities lurking about.

One of my pet peeves is people who write books, lecture, tweet, blog or train others to believe anything is within their potential.  We need to disabuse ourselves of that notion.

I’m an okay golfer, for example.  In my book, “Bad Golf” (www.justwrite15.com/bad-golf), I lay out the premise that most people fall into the bad golf category, defined as shooting 18 over par (or more) for a round.  Statistically, 90% of golfers fall into that category.

The irony is that most people would not call themselves bad golfers.  Instead, they retain hope they will become a decent golfer or a good golfer, just like I deceive myself that “Bad Golf” deserves to be an international best seller despite its sales of 700 copies over four years.

It is BS we are fed by leadership speakers and authors who repeat their mantra that if you set your mind to it and keep a positive attitude, you’ll get the job of your dreams and wake up every day singing your favorite song.  But many gobble it up, just as the bad golfer does – presuming he will magically be able to change one little thing to improve his game.

It takes dramatic effort, dedication and talent to get to an elite level of anything.  And that’s the stuff the leadership drones preach to the masses.  It’s a tonic most of us should not guzzle.

Instead, find your niche.   When you seek your ideal job and have looked for it repeatedly over a three-year period, it may not be out there.  Find something that works for you, pays the bills and allows you to live within your means (IF you can even find that job in today’s economy).

Pursuing what you are good at and enjoy (something I’ve done my entire career) doesn’t guarantee you arrive at Nirvana Land.  It doesn’t mean you’ll ever land your ideal job.

At the same time, if you push down that path, it does place you in an area where you should be.  Are you reasonably happy?  Have you had a decent career?

If you can answer “yes” to those questions, that’s probably enough for most of us.  If it’s “no,” then get outside your comfort zone.  

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All

Proudly powered by Weebly