Sensei was fond of telling students, “Do you know how many thousands of people have stepped onto this mat, and have come and gone, but you’re still here?”

It’s a statistic that most aspirants find daunting, so much so, that they pack it in and quit before reaching h

In an exchange of email with an old pal, we were discussing how some folks are delaying parenting until they’re in their 40’s and 50’s.

He said, “Well, I thought of that, but then I saw the statistics.”

He meant the chances for having a baby with birth defects, which of course, is a serious matter.

But what he didn’t know is the research finding that HIS odds of siring a less healthy child are approximately ONE-PERCENT higher because of his age.

I didn’t tell him because I realized that he saw some headline, got scared, and his mind snapped shut with regard to having kids of his own.

Worse than misinterpreting or having incomplete statistics, is the widespread tendency to simply give them far too much weight in our lives. We cede to them the power to curb our goals, to intimidate us, and the authority to rationalize retreat.

A little over a year ago I was awarded a Black Belt in Chinese Kenpo Karate, after eight years of serious study and work. I was only the 20th Black Belt promoted by our dojo since 1974.

Over those eight years, the Sensei was fond of telling students, “Do you know how many thousands of people have stepped onto this mat, and have come and gone, but you’re still here?”

It’s a statistic that most aspirants find daunting, so much so, that they pack it in and quit before reaching hi

which of course, is a serious matter.

But what he didn’t know is the research finding that HIS odds of siring a less healthy child are approximately ONE-PERCENT higher because of his age.

I didn’t tell him because I realized that he saw some headline, got scared, and his mind snapped shut with regard to having kids of his own.

Worse than misinterpreting or having incomplete statistics, is the widespread tendency to simply give them far too much weight in our lives. We cede to them the power to curb our goals, to intimidate us, and the authority to rationalize retreat.

A little over a year ago I was awarded a Black Belt in Chinese Kenpo Karate, after eight years of serious study and work. I was only the 20th Black Belt promoted by our dojo since 1974.

Over those eight years, the Sensei was fond of telling students, “Do you know how many thousands of people have stepped onto this mat, and have come and gone, but you’re still here?”

It’s a statistic that most aspirants find daunting, so much so, that they pack it in and quit before reaching h

ed, and his mind snapped shut with regard to having kids of his own.

Worse than misinterpreting or having incomplete statistics, is the widespread tendency to simply give them far too much weight in our lives. We cede to them the power to curb our goals, to intimidate us, and the authority to rationalize retreat.

A little over a year ago I was awarded a Black Belt in Chinese Kenpo Karate, after eight years of serious study and work. I was only the 20th Black Belt promoted by our dojo since 1974.

Over those eight years, the Sensei was fond of telling students, “Do you know how many thousands of people have stepped onto this mat, and have come and gone, but you’re still here?”

It’s a statistic that most aspirants find daunting, so much so, that they pack it in and quit before reaching h

e us, and the authority to rationalize retreat.

A little over a year ago I was awarded a Black Belt in Chinese Kenpo Karate, after eight years of serious study and work. I was only the 20th Black Belt promoted by our dojo since 1974.

Over those eight years, the Sensei was fond of telling students, “Do you know how many thousands of people have stepped onto this mat, and have come and gone, but you’re still here?”

It’s a statistic that most aspirants find daunting, so much so, that they pack it in and quit before reaching h

Sensei was fond of telling students, “Do you know how many thousands of people have stepped onto this mat, and have come and gone, but you’re still here?”

It’s a statistic that most aspirants find daunting, so much so, that they pack it in and quit before reaching higher levels because they have taken personally the uneven odds.

“Gee, it must be ten thousand to one that I’ll reach Black Belt,” they whisper to themselves.

Would you believe me if I told you I never allowed that thought to intrude into my motivation ONCE during 8 years?

Why not? Because I’m one in ten MILLION or perhaps one in BILLIONS of people who inhabit this planet, and I know it.

Statistics can never capture ME, or you, unless you allow yourself to become ensnared in them.

Remember that scene in the original “Star Wars” movie when Han Solo is about to launch hyper-drive to evade Imperial captors?

A sidekick says, “Do you know the odds of getting away?” and Solo replies, defiantly, “Never tell me the odds!”

That’s as good a mantra as any, if you aim to be successful.

For every statistic, apart from death and taxes, there are exceptions.

You might say those are reserved for exceptional people.

Be one of them, and don’t worry about the rest.

Their destinies are not yours.