When I was a kid one of my favorite things to do was to dig holes in the backyard. My mom never seemed to appreciate our love for digging. For some reason she seemed to think that someone would step in one of these holes and break their leg. At any rate, I have three younger brothers and it was always fun to see who could dig the deeper hole. We would be out there for hours digging with sticks and our bare hands, because shovels are for sissies. If you were to look out there you would see legs sticking out of the ground as we stretched to see who had the most digging prowess. In the end, two things determined whose whole would be deeper. The length of your arms and your ability to stay the course. You see, if you have longer arms it’s only natural that you will be able to dig a deeper hole. You will naturally be able to reach further. However, if you give up too soon, the one who is willing to work harder and longer will succeed even if he has shorter arms. To dig the deepest hole you must combine your natural gifts with hard work.

The obstacles you face digging holes are the same obstacles to success we all face. There are two categories of obstacles in life. First, there will always be things you cannot change. Each of us have natural abilities and gifts. Some of us have long arms and some short. All things you have no control over. For example, I am naturally mechanically inclined. I have worked on cars since I started changing my mom’s oil when I was fourteen. I love working with my hands. Moreover, we all have weaknesses. For example, I will never be good at basketball. I can’t even dribble the ball and run down the court. I don’t know what a double-dribble is and I cannot figure out how to make myself care about what a bracket is. I have never been good at sports. I have always been they guy that gets nailed in the face while playing dodgeball, even in college. I am sure this will never change. Each of us are made up of strengths and weaknesses we. A lot of these are things we cannot change.

The second type of obstacles you face are things you can change. You can choose to have a good attitude in a bad situation. You can choose to stay late and finish the job after facing set backs. You can choose to work hard. You can choose to be loyal, diligent and faithful. You control your choices. Here is an example: I was in the school band when I was in junior high. I played the trumpet. Well, actually I held the trumpet to my lips while everyone else played. I went through two years, lost and unable to read music. I would watch out of the corner of my eye to make sure I looked like I was playing the right notes. I finally had to confess to the band teacher that I didn’t actually play the trumpet. Oh sure, I could make that thing make noise. Some times It sounded like it might grow up and be music one day. It never did. So, when I decided I wanted to play the guitar, my mom was quite skeptical. I don’t blame her. She never heard me practice the trumpet in the two years I was in band. I have always loved music, I was just not gifted with great musical abilities. But, I really wanted to learn to play the guitar. I began to take lessons. I worked hard. I worked really hard. It never came naturally. I took a year of music theory and learned to read music. I eventually became proficient at the guitar. The difference was my attitude. I will never have great musical aptitude; that I cannot change. However, I can control my attitude.

It’s so easy to look at the people with natural abilities and assume they are the ones destined for success. And, there is little that is more powerful than natural gifts combined with a great attitude and hard work. Yet, the greatest things determining your success are not the things you cannot control, but the things you can. In the end, the guy, that is willing to stay longer, dig harder, keep a positive attitude, be resourceful and never give up always has a chance to dig the deepest hole.