The "Idols Effect"

"You can do anything if you just set your mind to it, and work hard...."

Oh boy. How many times have I heard this phrase, spoken to kids and adults alike, by well meaning (but misinformed) teachers, coaches, parents or managers.

I call this the "Idols Effect". Have you ever followed "American Idols", or "South African Idols" on TV? If you have, you will be able to picture this scene:
A highly motivated and very self assured youngster walks into a room, and go stand in front of four judges. Head up, eyes beaming, he / she smiles and greets them with confidence. The confidence is welcomed by the judges, and they smile back, asking the youngster what he / she does for a living, and what he / she would like to sing. When they hear the title, the judges sit back in eager expectation, hoping to hear the sounds so familiar to that song, to fill the room.

The youngster closes his / her eyes for a moment, then look up, and open his / her mouth.....

Sounds fill the room that makes your TV speakers tremble in their effort to project it. The judges' faces turn into ghastly images of pain and horror. Not one of the notes that leaves the contestant's mouth even come close to the song that they are supposed to sing. Horror turns into laughter, both behind the judges' table, and in millions of living rooms across the country.

Mercifully one of the judges stop the horrific sounds. With head shaking, he simply says: "Please, promise us you will never do this to anyone else, ever." The youngster frowns in disbelief. The other judges affirm this statement with short sentences of disbelief and even contempt. Then the fourth judge simply states it to the youngster: "You cannot sing."

The youngsters face turns to anger. "But, everybody at home, all my friends, they all love it when I sing, they all say I have a beautiful voice!"

"They lie. You are horrible when you sing. Find another dream sweetheart", comes it from one of the judges. The other three nods in agreement, as do millions of people in front of their televisions.

"But, I can work even harder! I can be even better! I've worked my whole life for this" pleads the youngster.

"Don't even try. You do not have what it takes. Find a new career. Now, please go."

With a swearword directed at the judges, the youngster turn and storms out of the room. Outside, in front of the camera, he / she goes off about how they are going to show the whole world, and when they are famous, they will laugh at everyone who doubted their talent and ability.

"Anyone who says I cannot sing, is bleep-ing crazy!"

Behold: The Idols Effect.

You cannot achieve anything you want simply by working hard, and putting your mind on it. You need talent. At least a little. And the more talent you have, supported by knowledge, skill and experience, the more hard work will pay off.

Maybe you can achieve challenges through working hard to prove a point to yourself or someone else. Like making the first team. Or climbing Kilimanjaro. Or learning to play the piano. This is all very good things that forms your character. But, if you truly want to achieve beyond your wildest imagination, you need to top-up your natural talents and abilities with effort and hard work. Lots and lots of hard work. (According to Malcolm Gladwell, in his book "Outliers", success only comes after at least 10'000 hours of focused, hard work. That is 5 and a half years, five hours a day, seven days a week....)

Sometimes Lady Luck comes knocking. But the "Cinderella Man" story was only made into a movie because things like that almost never happens.

I don't want to kill dreams or drown challenges - not in the least. But combining hard work and high aspirations with natural talent is the proven recipe for success.