Be weary and leery when it comes to standardized tests and things of that nature that attempt to gauge your intelligence, aptitude, or ability to achieve at your given goal or dreams.

Please don't misunderstand me, such things can and do have their place and even be quite effective in steering a person towards the right career path, classes to take in college, or which educational degree to pursue.

The flip side of the coin, however; is that they can also end up being terribly fatalistic with regards to what you believe you're suited for, career wise, starting your own business, etc., or personally capable of achieving for that matter!

I can't help but wonder how many people have fallen victim to such things simply because they believed such tests to be all knowing.

Along the same lines, what about how many people were literally discouraged from doing something they might otherwise have thoroughly enjoyed doing. Perhaps through shear perseverance they might have even come to excel in the given area. One might cite Albert Einstein as such an example. Following his early years in education one would have been hard pressed to assume he'd earn the label of "genius".

The problem as I see it, strictly from my observations and personal experience with a number of "great achievers" if you will, is that absolute love and excitement for what you do is far more often what leads to one's eventual success and achievements in a given area. Rarely is it how someone may, or may not have scored on a given test.

I'd like to use myself as an example. The simple fact is if you were to look at absolutely any of my tests, etc. and judge me solely on that basis you'd say there was no way I'd have been fortunate enough to experience many of the things I've done.

Please don't assume I am tooting my own horn here, ok? The point I am trying to make is simply this...

The tests may have been correct. I might have been "better suited" in other areas of life. Things might have come easier in the short run had I chosen another career choice.

The thing is that I wanted to take my own path so much, that through my own life experiences I was able to figure my way around many of the stumbling blocks I've run into.

Certainly I've made my share of mistakes. I've missed the boat on a whole lot of opportunities as well I'd bet. Perhaps things might have even been a bit easier had I followed the advice of others and the tests I'd taken. The thing is though, I'd have missed so much.

I'd have missed a whole lot of happiness along the way as well. Perhaps most of all, I'd have missed sharing this very writing with you. My friend, follow your dream even when conventional wisdom might suggest otherwise.

-- Here's to your success, Josh Hinds