Stanley F. Bronstein – Personal Development BlogPersonal Development Blog of the Founder of the Achievement IQ Movement and Creator of the Laws of Positioning

We are sometimes born into wealth, but not ability.

Ability must be acquired by earnest desire; it is not inherited.

– Paul P. Parker

Born – Possessing from birth the quality, circumstances, or character stated.

Wealth – An abundance of anything; plentiful amount; the state of being rich or prosperous; valuable possessions, property or other riches

Ability – Power or capacity to act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc. Competence in an activity

Acquire – To come into possession or ownership of. To gain for oneself through one’s actions or efforts

Earnest – Serious in intention, purpose or effort. Showing depth and sincerity of feeling.

Desire – To wish or long for. To crave. To express a wish to obtain, ask for, or request.

Inherit – To take or receive by succession or will. To receive, as if by succession from predecessors. To take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it.

Tangible – Capable of being touched. Real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary

Intangible – Incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch

Source: Dictionary.com

What does this mean?

This quote suggests to me that while some people may be born with an abundance of valuable possessions, property or other “tangible” riches, no one is born with the power, competence or capacity to act. Instead, that power, competence or capacity to act must be gained through one’s serious, intentional and purposeful efforts. It is not something they acquire by virtue of being born with it.

Once again, this is an example of the Tangible versus the Intangible

An abundance of valuable possessions or property is an abundance of tangible items. It is capable of being touched. An abundance of ability is intangible. It is not capable of being touched.

Can we be born with ability or not?

I’m not sure whether or not we can be born with ability, but I am 100% positive that some environments we are born in are more conducive to the development of ability than others. For example, children born into a stable home situation where education is valued are more likely to achieve than children born into unstable home situations.

One high achiever who was born into a stable environment is Eric Kirkland of Phoenix, AZ. Eric is the senior managing engineer for SmithGroup, one of the leading architectural engineering firms in the United States. Eric’s home environment was so stable that Eric and his 3 other siblings all have achieved amazing results. Watch the video below to listen to Eric expand upon this subject.

Eric Kirkland is one of the persons who will be featured in my upcoming book:

If you want to view that portion of the interview, click on the image below.

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