Don't look for a magic pill: why ready-made recipes for success don't work

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You need to take responsibility for yourself and go your own way.

Why are we looking for a magic pill

You've most likely seen ads that promise weight loss without dieting or the opportunity to make millions on maternity leave. Such advertising is not done by chance - it is formulated in accordance with the needs of the audience. And it is clearly seen from the texts that people are often looking for a magical way that will help solve their troubles. We all have this to varying degrees, and here's why.

We want it to be simple

There are almost always obvious ways to solve a problem. But they are complicated. Let's take weight loss. It seems obvious what to do for this. Even on the tablets of Moses, the eleventh commandment was written: you need to eat less and move more, and you will be rewarded with harmony. But every person who has lost weight will be sure to ask: "How did it happen?" Because there is always hope: all of a sudden, you can still do nothing and get everything.

We want it to be simple, but not too much

If everyday activities lead to the goal, this is suspicious. Let's get back to losing weight: let's say you just need to eat correctly and move more. But why then are there enough overweight people around? So, there is some secret! And he must be recognized by all means, otherwise simple things will not work.

It is easier for a person to believe in a secret method than to admit that all means to achieve the goal were always available to him.

We want it to be fast

The disadvantage of simple solutions is that they usually also lead to the goal for a long time. Let's say a college friend saved up for a down payment, took out a mortgage, and moved into his own apartment. “Your own housing is, of course, good. But loans, overpayments are not for successful people. I wish I could go to a business training and start making millions the day after tomorrow! - you have definitely heard something similar from someone you know.

A friend with a mortgage is very likely to become the owner of his own apartment in a few years without encumbrances. He would have gotten to the same point if he had spent the down payment on business trainings - a big question. But the idea of a magic pill is still attractive because it supposedly allows you to get results quickly with the least effort.

We believe in the existence of a correct algorithm

In general, humans tend to systematize and streamline. It's easier for us to convince ourselves that the world is fair and nothing will happen to us if we play by its rules, than to understand that trouble just happens.

Following the prescriptions seems to guarantee the result. Although this is not at all the case.

So it is with the achievement of goals: I want to believe that there is a certain set of rules and steps that will help to reach the goal. And if you do not deviate from it, that is, play by the rules, then the result will be exactly as promised.

We want to share responsibility

Any path requires many intermediate solutions. I made the right choice - well done, the wrong one - no. But if we act according to someone else's recommendations and they do not work, then the author of the advice is to blame. And we are still great.

Why ready-made recipes for success don't work

There are several main reasons.

We are different

The idea is not very revolutionary, but correct. Even drugs - not magic, but real ones - are tested on different groups of people. Drugs can work differently depending on weight, height, gender, race, metabolism, and many other parameters. What can we say about other areas.

Take copywriting. This occupation is positioned as a profession with a super-low entry level: the majority of them have already mastered the Russian language at school. That is why everyone is invited to copywriting courses and they promise a lot of orders and good pay. And so the students graduate, they work for some time. And it turns out that the result is not the same, although everyone works according to the advice of the courses. Because it's not just algorithms that matter, but personality and talent as well.

Circumstances are different

Even if people go one way, circumstances can seriously affect where or when the travelers go. Here's a literal example: two people are walking a trail. But one rubbed his leg and had to slow down. After the control time, the first one will clearly lag behind the second participant in the movement, although he also follows the same path.

Moving away from literal analogies, there are many more factors influencing success. And in many cases, a pre-made recipe just won't work.

There is more than one path to success

The traveler with the rubbed leg from the previous example could catch a ride and get on it faster than his competitor. It would be unfair in competitions with clear rules. But in life, everything is a little different. You can follow an inappropriate algorithm for a long time and believe that you will get yours if you follow the rules. But at the same time, do not notice the other way.

Sometimes luck is enough

Maybe it's not fair. But the world is unfair: sometimes, trouble just happens. And it happens that, on the contrary, wonderful things.

How to replace the search for a magic pill

There are no obvious solutions, but something might help.

Transform algorithms for yourself

The lack of a magic pill does not mean that advice is useless. You just need to adapt them for yourself.

For example, there are many recommendations on how to save money. Usually a certain average amount is taken there, because it is impossible to describe all the options. Let's say the author argues: "If you save five thousand a month, then in a year you will have 60 thousand." A person with a salary of 200 thousand thinks: “It’s just a penny, silly advice!” His neighbor with an income of 20 thousand writes in the comments: "The author is such a fool, I need these five thousand a month!" But the advice "to postpone" works, you just need to adjust the amount for yourself.

And everything else is the same. This will require you to constantly make decisions, which is not always easy. But it is better to face the difficulties in the process than to realize later that the time was wasted.

Tune in for the long haul

Of course, there are quick victories, but it is better to focus on a longer period. If you tune in to quick results and don't get them, you run the risk of frustration and loss of motivation. But if you get ahead of the schedule - well, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Don't be discouraged by failure

The problem with magic algorithms is that if something goes wrong, it can easily become an excuse to give up everything. For example, a nutritionist on the Internet said to exclude sweets from the diet if you want to lose weight. And the man could not resist and ate the chocolate. Then people often act according to the principle "the barn is burnt out - burn and hut", overeat and roll back to the beginning of the path. Although nothing criminal has happened.

When it comes to a marathon, not a sprint, mistakes slow you down, but don't knock you out of the race.

Take advantage of the opportunities

Luck is often the result of some preliminary effort. For example, a friend of yours was recently offered a dream job. They called themselves, that's lucky! But it turned out that six months ago, the future boss was interviewing your acquaintance at another company. The head then liked the candidate, but the position was not very suitable for the applicant. And now the boss moved to a new firm, began to close vacancies and remembered the candidate that interested him.

In general, you never know what the consequences will be of this or that action. So, if an opportunity looms before you, grab it.