“I can’t” and the Defeatist Mentality

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.”

– Henry Ford

A little piece of me died inside yesterday when I heard a mother say to her (very talented) teenage daughter: “You can’t make art your career because it’s too competitive.”

Sigh.

I honestly can’t think of a worse dream-crushing mentality.

Granted, I am not a parent, nor will I pretend to understand how stressful it is to raise a child (especially in this day and age). Clearly this woman only wants “the best” for her daughter.

The only problem  is, “what’s best” may not be the right choice after-all. What we perceive as “practical” or “realistic” can be very dangerous.

Is it better to spend your life working a thankless job and watch every minute of every day before you can finally punch out?

OR is it better to be in a profession which you love so much that when you wake up in the morning you can’t wait to get to work?

I think the word “job security” is out-dated.

It’s time to wake up. There is no job security (for anyone). If the events of the past year are not a stark reminder of the new economy and new world we live in I don’t know what is.

It is time for us to do what we love. The rest (aka money) will follow.

I’m sick of the word “can’t” and all of the excuses and labels that go along with with it.

Yes you can.

Tagged as: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, business, Dreams, Henry Ford