You should give up

Give up your dreams and settle for mediocrity

You’re going to fail. You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You don’t work hard enough. You’re not disciplined enough. Your dreams are entirely and forever out of your reach.

And if you don’t want to punch me right now, I’m probably right.

When I look at success I often see a “screw you” attitude. When they’re told they can’t or won’t or shouldn’t do something they refuse to listen. Defiance is an incredible motivator.

Just about every good thing I’ve done was preceded by someone telling me that I can’t do it. I love proving people wrong.

So what if this doesn’t come naturally to you? What if you hear discouragement and retreat? What if you’re knocked down and want to stay down? What then? Then you learn how to stand stronger.

Start small.

We learn to overcome large obstacles by tackling small ones. Look at every small setback as a chance to strengthen your resolve. Then when the major blows come you’ll be ready. You’ll be prepared to push back. And that’s what you have to do. Push. Don’t just stand your ground. If you’re hit, hit back harder. If you’re told you’ll fail, work harder to succeed. If someone says you can’t lose 10 pounds, aim to lose 20. If they say you won’t make $100, make $10,000. Fight. And fight to win.

“But shouldn’t I listen to those more experienced, wiser, or older than me?”

Sure. Sometimes. But also realize that every single piece of advice you’ve ever heard (yes—this article included) comes out of a lifetime of personal experiences, prejudices, and opinions. Take it all with a grain of salt. Or a handful. Very smart men have given me very stupid advice.

It’s not a bad thing to be a little stubborn.

Or you could get back on the couch. It’s not like you were going to succeed, anyway.