YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, BUT NOT EVERYTHING
- Derek Hagen
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
❝Just because you can doesn't mean you should.❞ -William Taylor
THE RUDY STORY: INSPIRING, BUT...
The movie Rudy tells the story of a young man whose dream was to play football at Notre Dame. Against all odds, and through years of grit and determination, he finally did.
It’s an inspiring example of what’s possible when you refuse to give up.
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But here’s a thought: what else could Rudy have accomplished if he had applied that same energy and focus to something with a bigger long-term payoff? It’s one thing to believe “I can.” It’s another to ask, “Should I?”
MINDSET MATTERS
A fixed mindset says abilities are set in stone:
“I’m just not good with money.”
“I’ll never be able to do that.”
A growth mindset says abilities can be developed through effort and learning:
“I can figure this out.”
“I don’t know how… yet.”
Growth mindset turns “I can’t” into “I can.”
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Money Scripts® are subconscious beliefs we have about money that we learn these we are growing up in our family systems. A Money Script can be anything, but they tend to fall into four categories. Learn what categories your Money Scripts fall into. |
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OPPORTUNITY COST: THE TRADE-OFFS WE ALL FACE
But even with a growth mindset, there’s another layer: opportunity cost.
Every choice comes with a trade-off. Saying yes to one thing means saying no to something else. If I spend the evening reading a book, that’s time I didn’t spend walking the dog.
The same is true with money and energy. Every dollar you spend on one thing is a dollar you can’t spend (or save) for something else. Every hour of effort in one area means less time for another.
That doesn’t mean you can’t do something. It just means you should ask: “Is it worth it?”
THE PROGRESSION: FROM "I CAN'T" TO "IS IT WORTH IT?"
Think of it as a three-step shift:
Fixed mindset: “I can’t.”
Growth mindset: “I can.”
Opportunity cost: “I could, but is it worth it?”
When it comes to money, careers, or even personal goals, this shift can make the difference between chasing everything and focusing on what truly matters.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
You get one life; live intentionally.
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REFERENCES AND INFLUENCES
Adams, Scott: How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
Ariely, Dan: Predictably Irrational
Ariely, Dan & Jeff Kreisler: Dollars and Sense
Boniwell, Ilona: Positive Psychology in a Nutshell
Clements, Jonathan: How to Think About Money
Dweck, Carol: Mindset
Hefferon, Kate & Ilona Boniwell: Positive Psychology
Housel, Morgan: The Psychology of Money
