Don’t Tell Me What I Can’t Do…
I blame this totally on my daughter Rose.
Over Christmas, while she was visiting for the holidays, she twisted the collective arms of my wife and I to take up her “Lost” habit. She even sealed the deal with the complete Seasons 1-5 DVD set under the tree.
So Charlotte and I have become LOST fans. And it’s not such a bad thing. In fact, I will acknowledge, in my opinion LOST represents some of the very best Televsion ever created.
It has spawned a wide ranging universe of fan sites, blogs, etc. all on the topic of this quite addictive show.
One great thing about LOST is its use of language and the way the writers keep coming back to recurring themes again and again. One catch phrase that keeps resurrecting itself is this line:
“Don’t tell me what I can’t do!”
I love it.
And I’ll just bet that resonates with you too.
Haven’t we all been told we’re crazy for doing what it is we do? Going off and trying to make a living running your own business – whether it’s magic or music or whatever – has always struck sensible folk as downright crazy.
Well, crazy is in the eyes of the beholder. I did a little search and came up with a few other “crazy” warnings for folks attempting to do something out of the ordinary.
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“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C’, the idea must be feasible.”
– A Yale University management professor in response to a college assignment by Fred Smith, founder of Federal Express Corp.
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“A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make.”
– Response to Debbi Fields’ idea of starting Mrs. Fields’ Cookies.
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“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?”
– H. M. Warner, co-founder of Warner Bros., 1927.
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“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”
– Decca Records, when they rejected The Beatles, 1962.
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“Children just aren’t interested in Witches and Wizards anymore.”
– Anonymous publishing executive writing to JK Rowling 1996
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Think about these and a million other examples of success the next time someone calls you crazy for doing what you love.
Go and make YOUR dreams come true.
Keep moving forward.
–Jack Turk
P.S., Summer’s approaching and lots of little kids will be hitting the preschools big time for summer session as the regular school year winds down. Do you have all your marketing materials done for this lucrative market? Here’s an easy way to be ready:
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