Do You Have “IT?” Can You Change?

I had a great conversation with a friend last night about people’s ability to change. As I understood him, he was saying that there are things that people cannot do, ever, no matter how hard they try.

There are some things that I will agree with that on. If you were born with a mental deficiency and wanted to be an astro-physicist, it probably isn’t going to happen. However, that really wasn’t the discussion.

We were discussing the ability of people to change to be a success in their lives. If they really had “IT,” whatever “IT” is. My friend was saying that there were people who, no matter how hard they tried, could not change and be successful.  I was saying that they could.

We agreed that to be successful, the first step is for the person to do a real honest self evaluation. I know I would not be successful as a bomb squad technician. I don’t like things that go boom, especially when that boom might spread me all over the county! I wouldn’t make a good airline pilot. I’m not that fond of flying. It doesn’t mean, however, that I could not learn those skills; I just know I would not be happy at them.

I believe in a person’s ability to change! I was once a poor student in school and changed to earn high marks for my graduate and under-graduate degrees. I once thought of myself as a major loser, and I learned that I can win at the things I try hard at, at least to the point that I am satisfied.

I have read countless stories of people who had disadvantages. People with learning disabilities that became PhD’s, people with physical handicaps that became tops in their fields. People who no one believed would ever make anything of themselves who went on to become important people. I know it can be done.

It is not easy! It takes work, dedication, persistence, and honest self evaluation. It takes a desire that is greater than the fear.

What is it you want? Can you get it? Can you go after it? Are you sure you really want it? These are questions that only you can answer, but they are also the questions that you have control over.