Have you ever wondered why Forrest Gump became rich and successful even if he was considered by many as “stupid and dumb”?
I’ve watched this movie many times already, and up to now, I am still fascinated about the movie.
Let me just breakdown some of the traits that successful people and Forrest Gump have in common.
1. Focus
In whatever he did in the movie, he was focused. Gump was focused in running for the Alabama Football Team in college and he did it well.
He was also focused in disassemblimg and assembling rifles during his stint in the army.
He was also all eyes on pingpong when he got injured in the army. And again, it was no surprise he did pretty well in it.
Next was when he ventured in shrimping business. Again, he did great.
What he showed in the movie, similar to other successful people, is that he has HIS MIND into one thing he want to achieve.
He was giving undivided attention to a goal.
No matter what happens, Forrest Gump was focused on achieving, even at times, he was not conscious about it.
2. Perseverance
Forrest demonstrated his will to not give in to failure. He was ridiculed and overlooked many times, but still, he persevered. From school, military and in even in relationship, he has always been the odd man out, yet, he never gave up on what he wanted.
There is a part in the movie where he said he just “ran”. When he reached one end, he would go back to run again. This is just to show his unwavering will to just do what he wants to do.
3. “Dumb”
Sometimes, most of us are too smart for ourselves, that we try to “act” smart and ended up always doing what is just “safe.”
Forrest demonstrated that he got one thing in mind, one goal at a time, and eveytime he pursues it he just goes after it. Just like what Nike’s tagline is “JUST DO IT.” And sure he does.
Most of the successful people try things not out of comfort. But because they want to reach their goals. More often, they try new things out of what the rest of the people are doing things.
I’m pretty sure that the Wright Brothers were ridiculed a lot of times, before proving to the other people that they can fly.
Most likely, Henry Ford was labeled insane before he manufactured the first car.
Sometimes, regular people are afraid to try new things, thinking it’s not what has been “proven” to be right.
This is what sets apart successful people. They do things out of ordinary. Even at times they can be labeled as “dumb.”
I like how an old saying goes, “how can you fill your cup, if you think it’s full“, meaning how can we learn more stuff if we think we know a lot already.
Life is a journey of trying and learning. We will never know what “might have been” if we don’t just do it.
Sometimes, we are our worst enemies. We tend to think that we are smart enough to do the working, ordinary things, we do not want to try other things anymore. So we end up being part of the mediocrity.
To be successful you need not to be the smartest “dumb” person you could ever be. You just have to know what you want, focus on it, and pursue it until you reach your goal.
Rey Belen