Because it’s Everything You Do is Right Day!
Today’s holiday got me thinking, can a person always be right? I mean there are two sides to every story. And, why take someone’s advice when you can always do what you want and be right? Here I’ve laid out four traditionally motivating quotes and why you should follow the advice (and not). After all, it doesn’t matter what you do on a day when you’re never wrong! Note: This article is 100% just for fun and is not meant to be taken seriously. 😉
“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” — Vince Lombardi
For: Perfection is something that many of us strive for. And although it’s virtually impossible, when learning, you must practice and strive for that seemingly unattainable achievement level to be successful. It takes a lot of time, patience, and dedication when expanding the scope of your knowledge, but without a proper pathway, you may be doing yourself a disservice. It’s ever so important when learning a new skill to practice, practice, practice. However, you may never achieve greatness if that practice is done haphazardly or without full diligence.
Against: The number of times that I heard this growing up is atrocious. I remember thinking, what kind of ridiculous statement tells me to be perfect when I’m still a novice at what I’m trying to learn?! But seriously, there’s no one right way to learn, and practicing perfectly isn’t something that can be defined even on an individual level. So, if you’re trying to acquire a new skill or expand your knowledge base, the best thing you can do is just get started and stick with it. You’ll find what works best for you over time and who knows, maybe eventually “perfectly practice”.
“Early is on time and on time is late.” — Bo Schembechler
For: Planning an event, meeting, or gathering can be quite the affair. As the planner of this said affair, setting an agenda or schedule is a time-consuming matter. So when you plan something and everyone arrives exactly when it’s supposed to start (or worse, late), it can throw off the entire plan. This, of course, does not apply to every situation, but in almost every situation where I or someone I know has arrived early, the consequences have been virtually nonexistent. Whereas, arriving exactly on time can have a whole ramification of things spiraling out of control, such as having to fill out paperwork, needing time to get settled into your new surroundings, accounting for the synchronicity of clocks, etc.
Against: When given an arrival time, it’s expected you show up at that set hour. In all honesty, whoever set up the event should simply understand that if you show up right at the start, then you’ve done exactly as expected. Any expectation of arriving early is overwhelming and when you have a life to live, it’s just simply not workable. It’s up to the scheduler to let you in on the arrival expectations and, at the very least, if they don’t, you have someone to blame.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” — Walt Disney
For: When defining a dream as an aspiration, this statement is very plausible. Within moderate reason, if there is something you wish to do in life, then you can certainly achieve it. Certain things may be easier or more challenging for you than others, and that’s okay! Never let an obstacle impede achieving your goals. This quote ties closely to a concept that’s dear to my heart, having a “growth mindset” over a “fixed mindset”. Believe it, and you will be successful.
Against: If you’re anything like me, some dreams I’ve had are simply impossible. Have I dreamed I can fly? Sure, but can I actually do it? No. Have I dreamed that I could go back in time and change how I handled a bad relationship? Sure, but again can I actually do it? No. When taken in this context, this quote is obviously regrettable.
“Fake it till you make it.” — Mary Kay Ash
For: One of the most difficult things in life is embarking on a new journey. Whether that’s attending a new school, starting a new job, or entering a new relationship, we all have to face unique challenges. Although controversial, starting on any new endeavor should be carefully crafted with thoughtfully drawn-out steps. Now, I don’t mean in a manipulative way but rather in a self-achieving one. Any unique opportunity will present hurdles that you’ll indeed have to overcome and may offer new feelings of doubt in your mind. Instead of admitting defeat, a little faking at a level of expertise or understanding shouldn’t be of concern. In fact, tackling a difficult situation with a bit of “fakeness” likely will come off as confidence which can lead to bigger and better things.
Against: There will be a time in everyone’s life when you simply can’t fake it. Showing the “real you” in any situation is a likely way to avoid any complications or hiccups in the future. So if you’re tempted to lie a little on your resume, to a friend or a partner, just don’t do it. The outcome will likely be favorable for all parties involved.
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. — Henry Ford
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