You can not be anything you want to be.

Almost everyone was told growing up that we can be anything we want to be if we just try hard enough. Unfortunately, this is not true.

For instance, let’s look at Michael Jordan the basketball player:
n 5 time MVP
n 10 time All NBA First -Team selection
n Selected as one of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
n Member of 6 NBA Championship teams
n 6 time NBA Finals MVP
n 9 time NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection
n NBA Defensive Player of the Year
n Member of 13 NBA All-Star Teams
n 3 time MVP of NBA All-Star Games
n NBA record for most seasons leading the league in scoring

Now let’s look at Michael Jordan the baseball player:
n 1994 Signed a Minor League contract
n 1994 batted a .202
n 1994 quit the minor league and returned to the Chicago Bulls

As you can see, one of the world’s best athletes was unable to be anything he wanted to be even when he tried his hardest. So why do we preach this so often?

“In a case study, the overwhelming majority of parents (77%) think that their children’s lowest grades deserve the most time and attention - instead of encouraging and investing more time in areas where the child shows the most potential for greatness. The reality is a youth who always struggled with numbers will rarely grow up to be a great Accountant.” - Tom Rath, StrengthsFinder 2.0

Tom Rath goes on to explain that “You can not be anything you want to be – but you can be a lot more of who you already are.”

I believe that Tom Rath was on to something. We can avoid failure by ignoring what isn’t working for us. As Tom Rath said, “we should start with our talents and then add some skills, knowledge, and practice into the mix. Once we do this our dominant talents will serve as a multiplier.” Thus we are capable of being much more of who we already are. Too often we exhaust more time and energy on our weaknesses when it would be better off committing those resources to our strengths. When we understand our true strengths, and apply them to our daily routines, we have the potential to be the most successful person we are able to be!

Comment by Slouch on June 18, 2008 at 4:30pm: i knew for sure when I quit latin in grade 10 i no longer was going to have the opportunity to become the pope.

Comment by James Carchidi on June 18, 2008 at 4:30pm: Yes, it is a great read. Thank you for your comments!

Comment by James Carchidi on June 18, 2008 at 4:32pm: Thanks for the laugh Slouch! I needed it.

Comment by Slouch on June 18, 2008 at 4:57pm: No problem James, it's the first thing I thought of after reading the post. Rayanne, is that some kind of spell?

Comment by Slouch on June 18, 2008 at 5:39pm: the good kind

Comment by Sally Raade on June 18, 2008 at 9:16pm: Love the post...it's like when I was much younger than I am today, I wanted
to be just like Barbie. I liked her blonde hair, her unrealistic great body and her long legs. Well as you might have guessed, I didn't turn out to be like her at all. I'm only 5ft, broad bodies with stocky legs. At least that's how I saw myself growing up. I was a tomboy and did alot of sports.

The one advantage with Michael Jordan is that he tried. Now he knows.; but
if he didn't try, he would have been wondering the rest of his life not knowing if he would succeed in his endeavor or not.

In my opinion; If you don't try, you won't know and if you don't know, how would you know how much talents you have to offer the world!

Of course, you have to be realistic...like being a nurse if you don't like to see people bleeding.

Comment by pam claughton on June 19, 2008 at 4:47am: Great post. Reminds me of another quote, "Do what you love and the money will follow." Assuming of course that you are also good at what you love!
:)

Comment by James Carchidi on June 19, 2008 at 7:57am: I agree whole heartedly Sally. You always have to try so that you know your true limitations.

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