‘According to recognized aerotechnical tests, the bumblebee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of his body in relation to the total wing area. The bumblebee does not know this, so he goes ahead and flies anyway’ (Igor Sikorsky builder of the first helicopter). If you have a dream, or a plan to do something different, or even something great, it won’t be long before someone tells you that you won’t succeed.
Mockers will come to fill you with doubts, some may even belittle your plan and you along with it. Some will be inspired by envy, their own sense of disappointment or even just because they are mean spirited. Those voices may even be from within you own head – you can’t do it, you failed last time you tried something different, no one will support you, you’re just not good enough.
History is littered with men and women who ignored those voices and followed their dreams. They discovered new lands, formed new companies and invented the things we take for granted today. Some ran for office and succeeded after many failures, others became champion athletes despite previously not making the grade, musicians and artists became overnight successes after year of rejection.
These people had something in common. They believed in themselves, they ignored the doubters and they got in the game. In the 2002 Winter Olympics Stephen Bradbury, competing for Australia, made the finals of the 1000 metres short track speed skating event. He got there due to a series of race falls and disqualifications in the heats and had no real expectation of beating his faster opponents. However, he got in the race and he competed. As it turned out all of his opponents fell at the last turn and Bradbury claimed the Gold medal. After the race he said, “Obviously I wasn’t the fastest skater. I don’t think I’ll take the medal as the minute-and-a-half of the race I actually won. I’ll take it as the last decade of the hard slog I put in.” Nobody expected Bradbury to win, there were plenty of doubters and critics, but he got in the race, and the rest, as they say is history.
About 500 years BCE Nehemiah, an official in court of the Persian King received some news that upset him. He was exiled from his own country and while he was in a responsible position and lived comfortably his heart was still in his home. His brother and others had come to him and told him that the walls of his city were broken down and the people who remained there were in trouble and lived with shame so Nehemiah formed a plan to return home and rebuild the walls of his city, Jerusalem. After obtaining permission from the king he set about the task. Nehemiah was not a builder, while comfortable he was not wealthy nor a man of particular influence, but he had a dream. As he committed himself to the task he was mocked, conspired against, attacked, falsely accused, his own supporters doubted him and believed his opponents and his reputation was attacked. But he persisted and the walls were rebuilt. The story is told in the book of his name in the Bible.
Nehemiah could have listened to those who doubted him, that thought the task too big, after all it had been tried before and others had failed. Who did Nehemiah think he was any way? He had no authority or any particular skills, the challenge is too big, best to just walk away.
You may have a dream or just a vague idea forming in your mind, but all the problems come to the surface and the doubters and mockers are quick to pour cold water on your passion. You are too old, too young, too unqualified, you’re a nobody, you don’t have the resources, you’ve failed before. The idea is no good any way, no one will want it, or follow you. Remember the bumblebee. Trust your instincts, believe in yourself and fly. Remember, if you want to win the prize, you have to get in the game.
Richard W.Foster 