Motivational Quotes vs Reality

If your social media feeds are anything like mine, they are full of quotes like these:

You can do anything you set your mind to.

When you believe in yourself anything is possible.

If you dream it you can do it.

She believed she could so she did.

As long as you've got passion, faith, and are willing to work hard, you can do anything and have anything you want in this world.

On a daily basis these and other similar such sentiments cross the monitors of our digital devices. Ah, the indomitable human spirit. Seriously, it's a good thing the healthy mind is wired to strive for things and not give up. How would we have ever made it out of the ice age or into the digital age without overachievers and type A's?

At the same time, let's not deceive ourselves...

Most people make notable accomplishments in what they have the aptitude for, skills and abilities in, and perseverance to attain. I was never going to be an Olympic athlete, electromagnetic physicist, or official presidential portrait painter. Sometimes things are best left at hobby level, for the good of all humanity - regardless of how many motivational quotes and people who believe in me tell me I can do anything. It's simply not truthful.

On top of my aptitude, skills and abilities, what and who I know, resources, priorities, and other factors have a bearing on successful execution of a hatched plan. Most of it is up to me, but not all of it. Some of it is not in my control, and that which isn't could be extremely important. Or, maybe I just lack the required talent I think I have, but I don't. Not only does this happen with occupations and careers, it happens with entrepreneurs - often.

About 50% of new U.S. companies fail in their first five years. Five years of work, money, and hope -- and it all just disappears, five times out of 10. - Gallup/Business Journal

Sangeeta Bharadwaj Badal, Ph.D., Gallup senior consultant and lead researcher in entrepreneurship, lends some insight into the article into the inherent factors that help to dictate success or failure.

Many experts do believe that you can take anyone and make that person into a super-successful entrepreneur. Unfortunately, that's really not the case. Providing someone with training and support can ignite whatever entrepreneurial capacity the individual has, but it cannot make the person creative or turn him or her into a risk-taker or into an achievement-oriented person. This is where the psychology of the entrepreneur becomes critically important. And our research shows that talent, a composite of personality traits and intellectual ability, can explain variance in business performance over and above ecological factors.

Am I being a downer? Are you looking for the nearest towel to throw in? I hope you aren't that weak. Stand up for yourself, if you've got it flaunt it. If you're not sure you have what it takes to succeed in X, interview someone who is successful at it, try it out as a part-time activity, take some related classes or attend some seminars, join a niche networking group, find a LinkedIn or other virtual group, make connections and ask questions.

Just make sure you understand what it will take to succeed, and a plan and resources to get you there, in addition to a collection of motivational quotes and team of cheerleaders who believe in you...