What do you want to be?

When you were young, how many times were you asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a kid, you would fantasize about the perfect occupation. There were no constraints or limitations. Reality played no role in your choice.

Today, are you doing what you really want to do? Are you in the occupation you fantasized about so many years ago?

Unfortunately, a majority would probably answer no. Perhaps you are among the fortunate group that can answer yes.

If you’re not in your ideal job or if you are not happy with what you are doing, there are several possible reasons. You may have been dissuaded by other’s opinions. You may have decided on your own that your dreams and aspirations were not realistic.

You may have had outside pressure to pursue a particular occupation.

You may have felt that economic constraints prevented you from the occupation you really wanted. You may have thought you were not smart enough. You may have felt you couldn’t afford the necessary education.

Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip, discovered his passion for drawing at an early age. His high school yearbook had the “wisdom” to reject his cartoons. After graduation, he was turned down for a cartoonist’s job at the Walt Disney studio.

In 1962 a budding English band was in search of a record contract. The Decca Recording Company had the insight to turn them down with the comment “We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” The rejected band was the Beatles.

In the 1970’s two college students designed a small computer that could fit on a desk. With limited resources they worked in a garage. Excited with their creation,

Continued on Page 5

‘Live Without Limits’ By Bryan Golden BRYAN GOLDEN (cont.)

they approached Atari, a leading electronics manufacturer at the time.

Atari had no interest. So they took their proposal to Hewlett-Packard. Again they were turned away with the admonition that they hadn’t even finished college. Undaunted, Steven Jobs and Steve Wozniak went on to start Apple Computer.

Fred Smith, a business student at Yale in 1966, received a poor grade on a research paper. Fred had proposed a revolutionary overnight delivery system.

His professor commented, “The concept is interesting and well formed, but in order to earn better than a C the idea must be feasible.” After graduation, Fred went on to found Federal Express.

As you can see, discouragement is not unusual. It is only a roadblock with your consent. You have the power and ability to be what you want to be and to do what you want to do.

The justifications given for not doing so are all based on false premises.

A person who is truly determined to reach a goal is unstoppable. Perhaps you find yourself unhappy with your current occupation. Why not change?

Some common reasons given are time, money, education, age, stability, income, family, location, etc. It’s never difficult to formulate an excuse to justify not taking action. If you really want to change what you do, there is a way. You can overcome any perceived obstacle. The time to begin is now. You will never be as young as you are today. Life is not a practice run.

Why not be what you really want to be? Who wants to look back and lament “I should have done it?” It does take effort to make a change, but it’s worth it.

It’s never too late and you are never too old to be whatever you wanted to be when you grew up. Be creative.

Bryan Golden is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E- mail