Belief alone is BS!!!!

After a conversation with a young man, I was shocked to be presented the understanding that all I had to do was simply believe in myself, in order to be successful. My brain sort of shut down for a second or two while I tried to comprehend what I had just been told.

“If it is meant to be it will happen. All you have to do is stay positive.” I was floored by this. To gain a better understanding I asked a couple of questions.

“Are you talking about in conjunction with hard work and preparation? Or, are you suggesting that that belief alone will allow you to be successful?”

“All you have to do is believe. I read your blogs, and I agree with you.” He said.

“You should read them again.” I told him.

If you are like my friend there, and you think being positive alone is the core of success, then you need to wake up. I have never said, nor will I ever subscribe to blind faith in yourself to be the only source of effort to your path to awesomeness. In order to be successful, you must work damn hard at it. You have to go about finding your success by leaving no stone unturned. No road untraveled. You must exhaust everything you got. When you have done all of these things, THEN flavor that labor with the absolute belief that you will be successful. It is during these struggles that wisdom is gained. It is in the research that we do during our pursuits that knowledge and intelligence is acquired. It is the exhilaration of success that we gain humility. Anyone who sits there and tells you that all you have to do is believe in yourself, is a damn fool. Work your ass off. Then work harder. Even if sometimes the hardest thing you will do is to be patient. At the end of the day, you should know that there isn’t anything out there that you cannot do. As long as you are realistic about it. For instance, I will never be an astronaut, surgeon, or nuclear physicist. No matter how hard I will work at these things, in all practicality I will not be successful. I may study hard and gain knowledge, but let’s be honest here, it will never really happen. I can become a writer though. Maybe one day, even a decent one. That is in the realm of possibility. It is tough work, and I find obstacles all of the time. I will not sit there on my couch and smile to myself and just know that I will be a great novelist, as my book writes itself and readers just miraculously buy my books out of nowhere. All I need to do is click my heels three times and believe. I could throw up right now. What I will do is persevere. I will work hard. I will find a way to be very successful. Period. Tell me your thoughts on what it takes to be successful.