Common phrases have a bad habit of taking up residence in our psyche. Unfortunately, many of them, though well-intended, actually do more harm than good. From time to time, it’s important to remind ourselves that there is no easy path to success. Trite maxims will not get you to where you want to be. They limit your thinking and, in turn, limit your effectiveness in reaching your long-term goals. Here are just a few “success myths” that I believe are limiting.
1. What you don’t know can’t hurt you. Not true. Even if you don’t know your illness (be it cancer or ignorance), it can certainly still do you harm.
2. It’s not who you are; it’s who you know. Not true. It’s who knows you. People do things for people they know, and they do more for people they like.
3. Learn the tricks of the trade. No, learn the trade.
4. Practice makes perfect. Not true. Practice makes better.
5. Fake it until you make it. No, learn it and master it so you can make it.
Fake it until you make it. No, be real and honest.
6. Opportunity knocks once. Before it knocks on someone else’s door, find where opportunity lives and knock on its door… and keep knocking until it lets you in.
7. I’m waiting for my ship to come in. Your ship may never come in; you may need to swim out to it.
8. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. No, you can’t teach an unwilling dog new tricks.
9. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. True, but you can make him thirsty enough that he can’t pass it up.
10. Tough times don’t last; tough people do. No, survivors and smart people outlast others.
Clifford A. Bailey
professional speaker, CEO and change agent