Defying Odds: when the world says ‘No’, say ‘Yes’ anyway

Colin Colas
Jul 22, 2017 · 3 min read

Per aspera ad astra — through hardships to the stars

Odds: the bewildering paradox that prevents many from trying whilst contrastingly propelling others to try.

“You need to score AAA to get onto this course.. I think you need to be more realistic.”

“The Civil Service Fast Stream is incredibly prestigious and incredibly competitive, don’t be surprised if you don’t get in. It’s like gold dust.”

“Chinese is one of the hardest languages to learn, why are you bothering?”

“You’re just an intern… you’re nothing. There are levels to this thing.”

Without drawing on too many examples of instances that I, myself, have had seeds of infectious doubt planted in my mind when pursuing a certain goal, I have learnt in my humble 22 months following graduation that, despite which corner of the world you hail from or career path you’ve opted to follow, we are all likely to experience, at any given stage, a series of challenges that minimise the likelihood of us achieving a certain goal or ambition.

Irrespective of what your personal endeavour may be — indeed, whether it relates to securing a certain test score, job opportunity or winning an annual sporting competition — how you respond to these respective odds plays a central role in defining the eventual outcome of your targeted goal.

The inception of self-doubt that is then implanted and ingrained in our minds following receiving disheartening criticism coupled with the temptation to compare ourselves to those who, ostensibly, have it better only works to increase the odds already stacked against us.

As it follows, we would then commonly (un)willingly put before ourselves a stream of questions in an attempt to deconstruct our naive ambitions:

“How can I compare myself to X, Y and Z?”

“What’s the point in trying when I haven’t even achieved X, Y and Z?”

“The chances are so small, why should I even bother?”

Succumbing to these internal pressures combined with their external counterparts, our focus pivots and we are thus susceptible to experiencing failure.

The more time we spend dedicated towards focussing on the criticisms or set-backs we face — or infamously the successes of others — the less time we have to invest into pushing ourselves closer to achieving our set goal(s).

By redirecting these thoughts and efforts towards developing our own skills and mind-set, we inadvertently increase the possibility of achieving that which we sought out to achieve. Indeed, as many great leaders of the past have stated and re-stated: “always remember to stay in your lane”.

By staying in your lane, you keep the focus on you. It doesn’t matter what competitive advantages your peers may or may not have over you — it’s all relative.

By utilising and believing in your uniqueness — you, by default, play to your own strengths and thus position yourself in your best standing. Even when the world is telling you ‘no’ — say ‘yes’ anyway.

If you aren’t your own biggest fan, who will be?

Believe in your ability and never give up.

SURGE Team, Friday 9 June, 2017

Dedicated to the SURGE team, Ahmed, Caitlin, Callum, Meg, Jimmy, Shyam and Victoria; my partner in crime, Mia; and those that were there since the beginning — my family, without whom the successes of 2017 would not have been possible.

Colin Colas

Written by

Feet on the ground, eyes to the sky.

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