The 4 Words I Heard at Age 7 That Still Drive Me: ‘You Can Do This’

R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness · Mar 3, 2026 · 7m

There are two kinds of people in this world:

• the ones who create barriers, say “you can’t do this,” and keep you stuck in the norms…

• and the ones who say, “sure, go for it—let’s see what you can do.”

I want to be the second kind.

Because sometimes all it takes is hearing, “you can do this.” Maybe only one in a million will carry it with them, but for that one person—it changes everything.

I still remember sitting cross-legged in a tiny gym at seven years old when a speaker said, “you can do this.” Almost 40 years later, I still hear it.

Here’s the truth: moving the needle is always hard…