There are a number of popular speakers who currently say that "anyone can be a success -- it is all up to them". Well, that is partially true. The way I divide it (others may have their own lists) it is about 1/3 true.
I see five primary factors in obtaining a goal (which I will further use rather than "success" -- which is very subjective). These are:
- Opportunity. You have to have the possibility of moving the direction you want to move. Although one can think of technological workarounds, it is extraordinarily difficult for a blind person to paint a picture. Beethoven composed while becoming deaf -- but he was not born deaf. In the 1967 Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer met all of the requirements for running the race but was prevented from completing it by a judge who did not want women participating. I always wanted to be a moon or Mars colonist. At 62, I would say that opportunity is now very unlikely.
- Support. Occasionally, a rare individual will have sufficient self-motivation (and luck) to move towards their goal without any external help. All cheers to them. Generally, people need psychological and monetary support to make it towards their goals.
A student with a family who values academics highly has a much easier road than one who, perhaps, has a single parent who works three jobs to support the family and -- although they have no dislike of the child doing well in school -- do not have the time, energy, or personal history to support the child. Sometimes, it is negative support -- "they never had it, did it, were able to do it -- why should the child have that possibility?" Sometimes you have that treasured teacher or friend or relative who provides enough positive energy to jump-start the process.
Money is a resource that makes a difference. You can buy a cow. You can buy paints and canvas, You can afford the tuition and ability to attend the school of your choice. You can afford clothing that allows you to present the image that people consider to be of the right "class". - Talent. All people, in my opinion, have equal value in their lives as people. That does not mean that all people are identical. Some people have perfect pitch. Others are tone deaf. Some people have the light bone structure and hips of a long-distance runner. Others may not even be able to walk. Some people do well on academic tests (we often call this "IQ") and some do not. Some people can easily interact with, and help people to trust and work with, other people (and other factors of "Emotional Intelligence"). Others find it difficult to speak to another person. Some can look at a piece of equipment and understand its workings immediately and be able to take it apart, repair it, and reassemble it. Others should be kept away from all breakable objects. Almost every person has a talent, even if that talent is not universally acknowledged and valued, but the person needs to have that specific talent (or talents) that will take them towards their personal goal.
- Effort. If you are allowed to do it, have support in doing it, and have adequate talent to do it -- you STILL have to DO it. Need to save money? Budget tightly and do such. Want to get that college degree with a high GPA? Forego other efforts and focus enough time and energy to get it done (assuming opportunity, support, and adequate intellectual talent). Want to complete a 4-minute mile in running? Assuming your body has the possibility, train, train, train. Want to have your own business? Put the plan together and strive towards it. Fail? Pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes, and keep trying. You have written the "great international novel"? The 40th literary agent just refused to promote it. Try the 41st, self-publish (along with immense self-advertising and promotion), convince a newspaper to publish it as a daily column (many of Dickens' books came about that way (called a "serial novel") - even some of Alexander McCall Smith's books in modern times).
- Luck. I define luck as the result of factors not even theoretically under your control. It can be good luck which enhances your efforts or bad luck which diminishes them. A traffic jam occurs on your way to an audition. The lead actor really does "break a leg" and you are able to perform as stand-in. The person that you meet in an elevator just happens to be an agent who is looking for a book on the very same subject of your book.
Opportunity, support, talent, effort, and luck. So, when someone says "anyone can be a success -- it is all up to them" they are right -- in a narrowly defined way. Factors can make it very difficult or very easy to achieve that "success". Compare a person who is 3 feet from a finish line, on a smooth track, in a race while another person has to run 100 yards, jumping over hurdles, avoiding land mines and angry dogs to reach that same finish line. Can they do it? It is still possible but odds diminish rapidly.
Those who have achieved a goal sometimes achieve it with unawareness, or forgetfulness, of all the factors that got them to that goal. (Some ARE aware and do their best to facilitate others to have an easier path.) They talk to others and say "I did it -- you can". That is true but it does not present the entire picture. Each person has their own path to reach their goal. Some paths are easy and some are horrendously difficult.
