Can We Really Be Anything We Want to Be?
By Michelle Malay Carter on April 13, 2008
A quote on David Zinger’s blog got me thinking.
Ninety percent of the world?s woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. Most of us go almost all the way through life as complete strangers to ourselves ~ Sydney J. Harris
Is this because self discovery is unnecessary if we believe we can be anything we want to be? We need not find out who we are, but rather we must find out what we want and go for it.
Is this why so many seemingly “have it all” types still feel bankrupt inside? Does true self-fulfillment come from being who we are rather than having what we want?
Newflash – Gutcheck
I don’t believe we can be anything we want to be, but yet that value is embedded in a lot of North American institutions, policies, practices. Our underlying beliefs, whether tacit or unconscious, drive our actions. Gut check time – do you really believe this?
Is the Myth of Unlimited Potential Liberating?
I realize the assertion that “we can be anything we set out mind to” is supposed to be liberating and encouraging, but instead, I think it leaves many feeling frustrated and inadequate and others prideful and judgmental.
What do you think?
Photo credit: Procsilas Moscas
Filed Under Corporate Values, High Potential, Personal Observation, Talent Management
Comments
12 Responses to “Can We Really Be Anything We Want to Be?”
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Hello Michelle,
What an insightful connection you’re making here! Your argument that self discovery is unnecessary if every possibility is open to us is powerful.
The idea that we can simply set our sights on whatever strikes our fancy, and then learn the necessary techniques – including personal traits – to attain it suggests that there is no need to understand ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses, our abilities and limitations.
The irony that so presumptively liberating a worldview actually plunges us into the most profound sort of constraint is wonderful.
Thanks for this!
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll have a little more on this in my next post.
And thanks for the tag. I’ll be posting my reading list later this week.
Regards,
Michelle
Michelle,
I think that you are dead on. It is only through self-discovery that you discover the “one thing” that you MUST do amidst the world of possibility.
Freedom is to consciously choose to be a slave to your destiny rather than unconsciously chasing “something better.” Eternally holding out the carrot of “what could be” encourages us to follow whatever carrot appears to be the most appealing at the moment- cowboy, policeman, astronaut, sports star, politician, professor, CEO… There is an unlimited supply of what could be. But there is only one thing that we can fully commit ourselves to Now.
-Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for stopping by.
You have some insightful thoughts on the subject as well I see. Thank you for your comments.
Michelle
There is more to this self-discovery than meets the eye. The developmental folks recognize that understanding your own limitations is a phenomena that takes some maturity. For example here is a value that appears at a higher than average stage of human development
Limitation – celebration. “The recognition that personal limits are the framework for exercising one’s talents. the ability to laugh at one’s own imperfections.”
As an aside, I just came off a neat weekend with a small group of business folks talking about values and their impact on organizational performance and effectiveness. We visited Brian Hall. one of the worlds leading experts in the connection of human development, values, and organizational effectiveness. He presents these ideas in comprehensive way in(Value Shift and The Genesis Effect: Personal and Organizational Transformations.)
Some years ago I had done an extensive search on values and found that Hall was significantly ahead of the other writings particularly in the organizational applications of vlues. I still believe that to be true.
[…] is a continuation of my last post where I asserted that you really cannot be anything you want to be,?and believing that you can be […]
You are so right about this! Michael Jordan is a perfect example of what you are saying–his natural talent and ability as a basketball player has placed him at the very top of his field.
But when he quit basketball to play baseball, he was rated mediocre. Truthfully, the only reason he got playing time was that he is Michael Jordan!
He went back to basketball and conquered the world, again.
The best success comes in matching your individual, specific talent to the best expression of that talent–there is where you have Michael Jordan-type basketball, take over the world success.
Teresa Day
http://www.TeresaDay.com
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for stopping by. Great example! I’ve said before that I detest labels because everything is contextual. One man’s leader is another’s fool. Even micromangement is contextual. Competence, as well, is contextual. This is a perfect example. So is Michael Jordan a top-level athlete or not? Huh, huh? If we had top-level athlete as a “competency” for certain job, would he qualify?
Thanks for the comment.
Michelle
This is real life wisdom, masquerading as a business article. For people to be satisfied in their careers, they must come to understand who they are and what type of work makes them feel fulfilled – the real answer to finding satisfaction with your work is to work at what makes you feel satisfied. When you allow other people to set your values – for example, working toward an extrinsic goal of making the most money when what gets your blood pumping is something else entirely – you aren’t allowing yourself any real personal satisfaction in your career. Your strategies are not in line with your goals. You are not on a journey, you’re just driving along.
Once you discover what drives you to feel a sense of fulfillment – stop at nothing to get yourself a chance to do it every day. When you work at something you love, you center yourself and align your whole being – you allow yourself to tap into your own discretionary energy. When you align your life around your goals, you allow yourself passion for your own work, you increase your productivity far beyond what any time management class or new blackberry will allow.
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I agree. Well said. Thank you for the comment.
Regards,
Michelle
Spot on.
What we must have to do what we do:
1. Ability to do the work
2. Knowledge / Skills
3. Discipline
4. Desire
Could I be an engineer, doctor or president? I certainly lack the desire for those things. While I might have the ability to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills, I don’t know that I would have the discipline to go through the process.
It’s not “Plato’s Republic” but certainly, there *are* limitations.
Hi Rick,
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. I think you four point model hits the nail on the head.
Regards,
Michelle