Don’t Embrace Your Inabilities
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Signal vs. Noise is a blog about business and design, but this recent post has some interest parallels to fitness that are worth mentioning.
David writes that the success of the popular “for Dummies” books demonstrates that people identify with being an idiot. This is as true for fitness as it is for plumbing, car repair, C++, and banjo.
How many of us have put off a run or avoided the free weights simply because we don’t consider ourselves to be a “runner” or a “weightlifter”? We feel like we don’t know what we’re doing and, therefore, we don’t do it, thus failing before we’ve even begun! But as David points out, success is not intangible:
I’ve met far too many people who seem so certain of their lack of abilities that they curb their chances of success before they’ve walked the first step…Just because you don’t know how to program or design or lead or do anything doesn’t make you a dummy or an idiot. Mastery is probably closer than you think.
David’s advice is as good for entreprenuers as it is for all of us wanna-be athletes:
If there’s something you don’t currently know how to do, please decide not to be a dummy or an idiot. You’re as smart as you always were, you’re just looking to learn something new. Set your ambition to that of equality: There’s no reason I couldn’t be as good as that guy or girl doing what I want.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to learn the banjo!
Don’t be so quick to embrace your own ignorance [via Tim]
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August 11th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
What a great life lesson! That is so true - I never looked at it that way but it is too easy to be “dumb” these days. Why learn anything? Why get motivated? Just let others make the decisions for you, right?
Well whether we are talking about business or eating or fitness or dieting or heck even religion - that is so true. There are few people in this world who are actually willing to step up and take accountability and charge of their own life. It is too bad as it would make their life better in so many ways.
August 11th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
It’s scary to think that our fears of inadequacy keep us from trying new and unfamiliar things.
Every once in a while, I will see an article detailing people’s greatest fears. Public speaking is usually at or right near the top.
Public speaking.
(Full disclosure…I hate public speaking)
Thanks for the wake-up call.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to give a speech about learning the banjo!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:59 am
I felt this way for a long time about running. I started running this Spring though and I really enjoy it. Nope, I’m not the fastest or the farthest but I like it anyway. I joined Runner’s Lounge and got a free “I AM A RUNNER” bracelet and wear it when I’m running to remind myself that even if I don’t feel like it, I am a runner. It’s very good motivation.