Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t... You’re Right! - Henry Ford Folks, I am always amazed at the power of the human mind and how it behaves, and the power of intentionality... being intentional with our actions, with our thoughts. People’s attitudes drive their behaviors, and behaviors drive end results. You become, what you think about.

Don’t believe me?
I have noticed a disturbing trend in the news, in society and even in a number of appointments in the office. I hear things like “Life is just too expensive, how can anyone retire now a days” or “It is just impossible for young people to buy a house” or “its impossible to get through school without massive student loans” or my favourite “the little man just can’t get ahead”. That’s the attitude of so many people in our society, that they have fatalistically painted themselves into a corner financially. That’s what they are telling themselves, that’s what they are hearing in the news and from their friends and family. If you happen to be one of those people saying these things….quit it. It’s always been hard to buy your first house, it’s always been hard to graduate postsecondary education without debt and what kills finances is not the high cost of living, it’s the cost of living high. (by the way, that last piece of wisdom was given to me by my grandfather who had an 8th grade education and was born into the Great Depression) He was born in 1928 and claimed he started the depression. He and I spent lots of time together in my youth and always regaled me with stories that proved some sort of a life lesson. He was intentional about that. One story has always stuck with me and I have dove into it further as I’ve gotten older.

Does anyone know the story of Roger Bannister? He was a neurologist at St Mary’s Hospital, in Oxford England. Now around the time of the Great Depression, there was a sense of mystery and myth around the 4 minute mile as it was referred to. People didn’t believe it could be broken. There was actually a published article in a medical journal that said that it was physically and anatomically impossible for a human body to move that fast and IF someone were to do it, upon crossing the finish line their heart would explode and they would die. It had never been done. Some people got close. Swedish runner Arne Andersson was the world record holder in the Mile at 4.01 which was set in 1944. That record stood for an unbelievable amount of time in track….over 9 years. Along comes Roger Bannister who on May 6, 1954 sets the Mile Record with a time of 3:59.4. He had done it. Because whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re Right! Now here is the interesting part. In the next 46 days, Roger’s record was broken 22 more times…..22 more times.

That’s the power of intentionality, that’s the power of the human brain….you become what you think about. Now I am not going to tell you that anything is possible just because you believe I’m not philosophically shallow enough to say that. At this point in my life, I’m probably not going to make a career out of Playing 1st Base for the Toronto Blue Jays, I’m realistic. But folks this stuff is powerful! I’m amazed at people who won’t take the next step in their life, or career, or marriage or finances or their estate plan just because, they don’t believe they can. Because whether you think you can or think you can’t... You're Right!