Why do people often say, "You can do anything or be anything you want if you just work hard enough!?

Question

Now, let us think about that. Does it mean that if I work hard enough, I could Pope of the Roman Catholic Chuch? Or does it mean that if I worked hard enough, I could run the foolball like Emmiit Smith? Or if I worked hard enough, I could marry the most beautiful woman in the world?

Of course not! So why do people continue to say that. I was told that as a kid. I knew it was not true then and know that it is not true now. Why does the myth continue?

Answer 1

It gives people hope. I t tells people the reason they aren't successful is because they are not trying.

Answer 2

My dad said that all the time.

It may be that there is some truth to it, provided you have the means to accomplish it. But in the real world this doesn't happen very often.

Sure, it would be nice if we could all apply ourselves just like they say and achieve those dreams, but this is the real world and there has to be some realism to what is possible and what isn't.

All parents hope that their kid is going to be a successful something, whether it is in medicine or law, or simply taking over the reins of the boot factory.

You have to have a goal in life. Without something to strive for, you will stagnate.

The old cliche "You can do anything or be anything you want if you just work hard enough! has some merit, but it isn't applicable to every single human. Not realistically, anyway.

Answer 3

Well, it is not a myth, its true!.If you want something a little simple like being a teacher or a principal, then yes, if you work hard enough it can be simple to achieve that dream. But if you want to be a millionaire or win the noble peace price, you can still work hard and achieve it! You can run the football like Emmiit Smith if you study football and work a long time on it. That Kentucky fried chicken guy, nobody liked his idea, and he went door to door trying to find someone who liked his chicken recipe. And look now, his restaurants are all over now! So if you work hard enough, you can be anything!

Answer 4

They want you to realize you potential. NOBODY achieves SUCCESS by slacking off.

You are right. Circumstance and ability play a role in the most successful achievements, especially those where only one is the successful applicant.

What they REALLY mean is if you don't put your best foot forward, you will FAIL. If you do, even if you fail in the ORIGINAL goal, typically OTHER opportunities come by for those with the right ATTITUDE.

That said, you can STILL lose out and die young or whatever.

LIFE IS TO BE LIVED. That is what they really MEAN. So stop making excuses for yourself, not to realize you potential.

HARD WORK IS NOT A MYTH, INSTANT WORK FREE SUCCESS IS A MYTH. Power to you, lol.

Embrace the Tao, live your life in a way that you gain your inner respect.

Answer 5

It is not an untrue statement, its just that you have not found anything that is worthwhile of pursuing.

It is not a myth- you are brining up extreme examples... do you want to be the pope? Do you want to run the football like Emmitt Smith? No, you don't. If you want something, truly, truly, in your heart, you can get it.

People didn't say that to you as a child as an untrue statement... it is true but you just have not found anything that you are passionate about.

Answer 6

My complaint about that useless expression is that it teaches you nothing. As a kid I believed that it was true for everyone but me because I believed I was the only one who could not make sense of it.

Actually there should be an expression covering the fact that people all have numerous possibilities, but before you start the hard work, you need to have a plan.

Answer 7

It's just a way parents try to instill the idea that hard work is the way to acheive your goals in life. It's meant to motivate children toward working for their accomplishments. I don't think it's meant to be taken literally. It is kind of a dumb thing to say - but don't you think that the sentiment is valid? I'd rather have people value hard work over luck or deceit or money, etc.

Answer 8

People say that to motivate you to try and achieve what you what to achieve. I'm in nursing school and I thought I wouldn't be able to do it, however my parents always told me that if I worked hard enough, I could make it. It allows you to strive to do the best of your ability.

Answer 9

It's to inspire persistence....just like fairy tales...do they ever come true...but it mostly is for your imagination...people aspire to
achieve goals, and when they achieve them....they do not
have that miraculous feeling of Nirvana we always somehow
become disappointed with our lives and such..but I found that
for me, rather than concentrating on my own happiness...I try
to make other people's lives easier....then I find true satisfaction and meaning to my life

Answer 10

It's not a myth. It's true. We become what we practice and focus on the most.

I'm sure you ARE the sum total of YOUR activity.