BETWEEN OUR OWN EARS
Thursday Dec. 4, 2014
I love these words from Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”
I chase opportunities.
All the time. (admittedly, I’ve had long periods where my chasing was tempered by difficulties of every kind I could imagine, when my life was in the pooper, but never been completely silenced in the thinking part … though I’ve often sad on the sidelines afraid to act or afraid of the risk).
Does chasing opportunities make sense?
No. Yes. Sometimes. Always.
Idea sparks, reacting to news, to what someone said or to some idea that floated in on the last breeze that ruffled my curtains – can send me on tangential journeys that distract for minutes.
Hours.
Or decades.
So can you.
Life is short, then you die. Why not take some magic-carpet rides?
What differentiates an opportunity that should be dismissed from one that changes our lives? What sorts ‘that which should be ignored completely’ from that which should change mankind?
Before dismissing any silly notion, think Roentgen (the X-ray), think Madame Currie (penicillin) and countless others – Edison, Jobs etc., remind us – quirkiest ideas might be world-changers.
Or just change my life changers.
Toughest to grasp, embrace and act upon are those thoughts/information-bits that float between our own ears.
What makes one better than another?
Aside from, “if it was such a great idea, why hasn’t somebody done it already”, or “someone with deeper pockets, earlier insight and a bigger dream” made that idea a reality already.
Poppycock.
There is always room for more, better and unique.
Do we only have one kind of electric tooth brush, restaurant, book, cookbook, thumb-drive … or even the pencil.
There is room for everyone, for anyone.
No idea is too crazy for me. Or you.
No dream is too wild for me. Or you.
No project is too impossible for me. Or you.
No ambition is too outrageous for me. Or you.
Are there practical examples to support this notion?
In simplistic form, farmers’ kids grow up believing they are capable of being farmers.
Doctors’ kids grow up believing they are capable of being doctors.
Mountain climbers’ kids grow up believing they can climb anything.
Novelists beget novelists.
Gardeners beget gardeners.
It isn’t so much that parents show, or want to show, their children the same ways or same paths to follow – because we all want the best for ours, just as our parents wanted the best for us.
It is about self-belief and confidence. That’s my belief.
We admire, easily, great achievements of great people yet so easily discount our own capabilities. Why is that?
Go ahead, look in your mirror and see if great accomplishment, great potential and great deeds are looking back at you.
If not, why not?
Look in that mirror – someone great, someone fantastic, is standing in front of you.
Go.
Do.
Achieve great things.
Forget what your upbringing/upbringers taught you that you could or could not to.
Whatever you ever believed you could, or couldn’t do, is right – if you decide that.
On the other hand, if you decide on bigger, better, greater things …
Mark Kolke
P.S.: a small test, though not proof … of my theory: today at 6:49AM I sent an email to someone I know about an idea I hatched while in Maui – his reply came in at 8:47AM. Warm and enthusiastic start …. we’ll meet. I’ll tell more when we advance it further – but it could be life altering for me!
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -7C/20F … milder is always nice … overcast, snow softening; Gusta and her nose are back to fine form as she struggled to chase after something down the street and up the hill (I’m guessing an on-the-loose canine type she’d caught the scent of) …
Reader feedback:
Of course, that’s it .. you’re having adolescent moments … and they can still be fun! Definite indicator that you’re not an “old fogey”. Welcome back .. , BR, Calgary, AB
Have you read ‘The Master and his Emissary’? I suspect that you will be fascinated by it, SS, Calgary, AB
