4 Comments on Arguing against your limitations

Mitch on Wed, 12th Aug 2009 1:59 am


I believe most people accept their own self imposed limitations because it’s easier than the alternative, that being to actually have to take a chance and try something different than the norm, or what’s expected of them.

I went into business for myself in 2001 just to try to break that norm. Sometimes I still feel my limitations, as with affiliate marketing, but on other fronts I take my shot at things. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t, but I don’t give up.

Having said that, as I read that post, when it comes to race and gender, I obviously don’t always believe that the playing fields are equal. During the election last year, I wrote on my business blog that if Barack Obama had the same background that Sarah Palin had, he’d never have even been allowed to place his name on the ballot for parks commissioner of a small city anywhere in America. I seriously believe that. Also, if he’d had the credentials of John McCain and McCain had his background, McCain would have won by 20 percentage points.

That’s where equal is in this country; it took someone with an extraordinary background and education to beat a man with a questionable political history and would have been the oldest man elected to the presidency by only 6 percentage points. I won’t start quoting numbers, but I will say that, when one starts bringing in more specific factors, the playing field isn’t even anymore, and some of “us” have a longer and harder road to traverse.

I bet you weren’t thinking I’d go there, were you? Well, I had to prove I read it.
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JD on Sun, 16th Aug 2009 7:05 am


Good morning, Mitch.

I just now saw your comment and appreciate it. I’m running late on everything this week, it seems.

I agree that most people argue for their limitations because it makes it easier to accept less from themselves. I know that running my own business sometimes causes me to want to pull my hair out and scream, but I still enjoy being the one to face the challenges and do the best that I can to overcome them and succeed at what I’m trying to do.

Sometimes, it’s much more difficult than at other times.

I’m not a Pollyanna who believes all things are easy and fair, but I do think that most of the time we are our own worst enemies. When we buy into the limitations that we voluntarily accept, or which others thrust upon us, we make our lives more difficult and limit what we can accomplish.

Is life fair? No.

Are all playing fields level? No.

Truly, I can’t comment on what you said about Obama and the election last year. I’m not black and don’t have the same experiences that you do, so no matter what I say, I’m just another white guy who may not understand. I don’t know. You may be right, but I think there were other factors involved.

Since I make it a point not to talk about sex, religion, and politics in public, I think I’ll stop there.

One of the great things about talking among friends is that we can feel comfortable going where we want, whether we agree or disagree.



Act on your dream!

JD

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach on Tue, 18th Aug 2009 8:17 am


As Richard Bach would say, argue for your limitations…and sure enough, they’re yours.

Always ask what’s the WORST thing that can happen? Quite often, it’s something quite liveable indeed.
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JD on Wed, 19th Aug 2009 11:03 am


Good morning, Barbara.

I’d forgotten that quote from Richard Bach, but agree with it completely.

And, many times, the worst that could happen, never actually happens.

“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” — Franklin Roosevelt.

Act on your dream!

JD