Let me start today’s blog with a disclaimer. I am not much of a TV or movie watcher, so the movie I am referencing is a bit outdated, but hang on the point is still valid.
Saturday afternoon I found myself looking to kill about 30 minutes before I had to leave the house, so I decided to sit down and turn on the TV to see what I could find. I came across the movie Yes Man starring Jim Carrey as it was getting started. I had remembered hearing about the movie, but only after looking it up today on IMBD did I realize it was 6yrs old.
True to my personality and mostly my lifestyle I didn’t watch the entire movie, but I did get far enough in to see Carrey’s “I’ve given up on life” character make it to a seminar called “Yes“. Now the seminar he was attending was the typical boiler room feel-good seminar that any person who has been in sales longer than 2 years has attended. After Carrey’s scene in the movie ended I had to go, so I can’t tell you how the movie ended or how Carrey’s character was able to use his new found wisdom to overcome his life struggles and move forward in his life.
As my day went on, I continued to think about the power of the word “Yes” and how a word so little and simple can make such an impact in how successful a person can become in their life. There are many people in the world, which will go through their life never taking chances or risks because they have been taught or have wrongly learned they will be happier in life when they eliminate all risks.
I am a big believer of the Pareto 80/20 rule, but where I differ from many is that I also believe anyone can rise up out of any situation in life and become apart of the 20 when they choose too. You are not born a 20 or 80 percenter (if that is a word) you are the person you are because you were taught or learned through your environment experiences. See Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. If you doubt what I say I will make you a bet of 1 dollar to prove it.
What will it take to get on the “road less traveled so you can have a fulfilling life? I’m not going to lie it will be hard. You will have to relearn how to think and act. You will have to work harder in the beginning to accomplish your goals and dreams. You will have many challenges and struggles and in the end it will benefit not only you, but your family for generations to come as well as so many others.
There is still time and that old dog can learn a new trick if you want it bad enough, so in honor of all who want to be a “Yes Man” for the rest of their life I am reposting one of my all time sayings.
Scott
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost,
For out in the world we find
Success being with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are:
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
― Walter D. Wintle