Making Peace With "Stupid"

Today, I came across this video on Entrepreneur.com and had to share it with you. 

Some of you may know Barbara Corcoran from the TV show Shark Tank. Others of you (particularly the Manhattanites) might know her name from the Corcoran Group real estate offices scattered throughout the city.

When you go to Barbara's website, here's an excerpt from the bio she's posted on her homepage:

"Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school and college and twenty jobs by the time she turned twenty-three. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country when she took a $1000 loan to start The Corcoran Group."

Anyone who has seen Barbara on Shark Tank knows that she is far from stupid. But, even she has a negative voice in her head that tells her that's exactly what she is. In the video below, Barbara talks about how she has made peace with that voice. What she comes up with is really inspiring.

[Sorry, y'all! The video was deleted! 😩]

What I find so wonderful about this video is that we can all apply Barbara's approach to dealing with our negative voices—even if we aren't yet real estate moguls, even if we haven't yet finished high school. In fact, this is an excellent way of dealing with that voice when studying for the SAT and ACT.

First of all, recognize that the voice in your head telling you that you are "stupid" (or whatever idea the voice has grasped onto) isn't personal. If it's telling the same thing to Barbara Corcoran today, it can't be based on fact.

Second, say, "Thank you" to the voice. You have a choice here. You can either let the voice shut you down and buy into the idea that pursuing your goals is hopeless, or you can let it push you further and motivate you to work harder.

One of my favorite ideas ever is that "It's not brave if you're not scared." Or, as Mark Twain put it,  "Courage is not the absence of fear. It is acting in spite of it." In the same way, being smart and capable is not the absence of a voice that tells you that you are otherwise, it is continuing to grow, learn, and pursue your goals in spite of that voice. Or, perhaps, because of that voice.

Keep going on your prep work. You can get there. Your dreams are possible.

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