November 3, 2006
Scott Adams’ Multiple Stream of Successes - Pure Luck ? or Mind Power ?
Editor: Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert is known for doing ‘impossible’ things. In this post on his blog he shares his story of how he’s been able to achieve remarkable success in many areas of his life through his positive mindset….
In Over My Head
I was about 9-years old when I told my mother I planned to win an art contest that was advertised on the back of a cereal box. If my drawing of the famous geyser Old Faithful were judged one of the best, I’d win a prize. Mom tried to explain just how many people would enter a contest like that, presumably so I wouldn’t be disappointed when I didn’t win. I understood the odds, but I was sure I was going to win anyway, so I sketched my picture and sent it in.
I won a camera.
When I was 11 years old, I was certain I would find the Golden Egg at the annual Easter Egg Hunt in my town. Imagine a field full of hidden eggs, the area is covered with kids looking for those eggs, and only one egg is the golden one. Against all odds, I was sure I would be the one to find it.
Later that week, my picture was on the front page of our local paper. “Scott Adams Finds Golden Egg.”
It was about that same time when I first heard the word valedictorian. I was surprised to learn that there was an actual name for the best student in the graduating class. I decided to become one of those. How hard could it be?
In 1975 I graduated as valedictorian.
I recall one day in eighth grade science class when the teacher was giving the answers to some standardized tests we were taking for practice. I raised my hand and pointed out that his answer was wrong. I argued that he was misinterpreting the question. This didn’t seem likely to him, given that he was a professional science teacher and I was 14. But to humor me, he agreed to go back to the source and check.