I Think I Can

I once heard someone say, “If you think you can, you are right and if you think you can’t, you are right.” There are many studies that prove someone’s mindset when attempting anything is one of the most important things in determining success.

My first car was a stick shift. I will never forget learning with my Dad in our high school parking lot. I’m pretty sure he had a Marlboro Red cig hanging out the window and took long drags to ease his stress level. The number of times we lunged forward and then stalled out is too many to count. My dad loved helping us accomplish things, especially if we found them to be difficult. At one point during my “lesson,” I turned to him and said, “I just can’t do it.” He told me if that is what I really believed, I would not be able to drive the car. Needless to say, I was 16yrs old and very much wanted to drive. I had to change my mindset. I told him that I did think I could do it but that I didn’t enjoy the learning process. Once I decided that I could learn to drive a stick shift car, I did!

When I moved to Austin for college, I needed my car because I lived off campus. I didn’t have much experience driving in an area with rolling hills and it takes a different touch to not slide backwards when shifting gears. I remember driving out to meet friends at the lake and my car was not shifting smoothly. Instead of pulling over to get help and minimize the damage to my car, I kept going. This resulted in me completely ruining the clutch of the car.

I called my Dad to tell him and ask for money to get it repaired. He asked me why I kept driving in the hills when I noticed the problem and was convinced that poor choice made the problem much worse. In a frustrated voice, he asked me what I was thinking. Since I can be a bit of a smart ass, I told him I was thinking, “I think I can, I think I can.” I was the little engine that could. We both got a good laugh.

If you are wondering if you can do something or not, If you think you can or think you can’t, you are right!

XX,

MG