Be for Bullshit?
Here I explore two different “self- help your way to success” techniques.
Is the key to success to let yourself BE successful or is the key to success to bullshit your way to the top?
The Beatles said it with simple mellifluence: Let it Be. Although Paul McCartney wrote the song after he had a dream about his mother. Mrs. McCartney appeared in young Pauls dream and said: “It will be all right, just let it be”…. So I was wrong, but the wider meaning is relevant, lets stay on the topic!
Lets say we take option 1. That quintessentially 60’s approach and let ourselves Be successful. Let ourselves shine and not stand in our own ways, yeah maaaaaaaaan.
Is that it? Is that all I’ve got to do. I don’t have to work like Yoda making carrot soup? Is that the gem that has been alluding all us losers for centuries past? Thank you very much.
If that’s the key then I’m the lock. Not the literal lock to the literal key. I am the thing the key fits into the lock in theory, but gives you the shits when you’re stuck outside your door at 2am on a Saturday night wondering if you’re accidently trying to unlock your neighbours door and you’re so busting to pee that you start doing your best monkey dance impression.
When the going gets tough and the job promotions are flowing I accidently have an anurism and self sabotage my way to unsuccessfulness. Damn hippies.
Option 2 is the bullshit approach. Pro active. This technique was mastered in “The invention of Lying” where the chubby, insightful, pugged nosed funny man Ricky Gervais told a beautiful blonde woman that the world is going to end unless she dropped her panties and did the nasty. She happily obliged. Now we as the viewer know that in real life his chances with her are about as likely as superman wearing boxers…(better breathability for Cryptonian boys).
The point it makes is there is a power in what comes out of our mouths.
Try repeating after me: “I am an important asset to this company, to this relationship, to this friendship, to bookclub (Cynthia!) to………..etc.
Now try it on real people. Secret: us humans are lazy things. Our lazyness esculated, or should I say meandered to a fart since the invention of Tetrus. We don’t want to make up our own minds. If you tell us you’re good, tell us you’re capable, tell us you’re the best friggen person for the job promotion since I don’t know when then we believe you! Woot!
However before you go rushing off to tell your boss you’re made of gold and you wee out diamonds (lucky you). It is also necessary to be ready to accept the consequences of success. For this you need to allow yourself to BE successful.
In the words of the wise one:
“Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”
Mandela. (sorry about the cliche).
He wasn’t talking about his phobia of midgets he was talking about you being brilliant.
So you must accept that you are brilliant. You must accept that you are magnificent, gorgeous and funny. YOU ARE MADE OF an INVALUABLE MATERIAL (that can’t be mined….don’t tell you boss that if you work for a mining company). You are already successful. You are truly unique. Go get em tiger.
There. Successful yet? Me neither, I’d better buy another book to read about it.
