The Conversion of Bob

 Those who preach the gospel of success often claim that once a person's mind is made up to succeed, then the universe begins to cooperate and clears the path of all obstacles and paves the way. But is this true and accurate?

On One Hand

If things don't respond in the way as described above, is it because the statement isn't true or is it because the person in question hasn't sincerely made up his mind to succeed? 

Success starts out as a mindset. If not, then the first hardship one encounters forces him to throw up his hands and say something like, "I'm cursed! Success isn't for me!"

The impediments to one's success may never actually vanish, as suggested by some gurus of prosperity, but because of one's successful mindset, the obstacles seem easier to negotiate, or maybe one is more willing to encounter them. The willingness someone has of working through barriers has much to do with his perception of them. 

How I respond to difficulties is a test of my conversion. 

But on the Other Hand

There is the notion that a real dream should come to you, and you don't have to chase it. Wow! That is rife with interpretations! The converse of that philosophy is that everything, especially things worthwhile, takes work, hard work, and sometimes at great sacrifice. It is also a grand fact that mistakes and failures are a big part of it. Like the late, great Tom Petty sang: 

"I'm running down a dream. It never would come to me."

There seems to be a tendency, especially among young Americans, that we are entitled to the fulfilment of our dreams and we deserve to have a fulfilling, satisfying and easy life when nothing can be further from the truth. When we see successful, wealthy people, doctors, engineers, attorneys, businesspeople, writers, artists, there is the perception that it's always been so for them when actually, what is rarely publicized is the hardships they endured to reach that level. 

No one deserves anything. It must be earned.