Most people misunderstand barriers. They see application fees and groan, face additional requirements and quit, face unpaid projects and leave. However, successful people understand that these barriers are gifts in disguise.
Think about the classic college application process. When a school adds additional essay or specialized project requirements, thousands of potential applicants immediately drop out. “Too much work,” they muttered and closed their browser. But this reaction paved the way for dedicated applicants willing to put in the effort.
This filtering process happens everywhere. Once you understand this, you will never look at obstacles the same way again.
Let me give a perfect example – the path to becoming a Major League Baseball player:
- 2,000,000 kids play little league
- 455,000 make it to high school baseball
- 25,000 play in college
- 1,500 were drafted by MLB teams
Even conscription does not guarantee success. At any given moment, only 750 players are wearing a major league uniform.
Players who have made it to the major leagues are not only the most talented, they are the ones who have removed all obstacles in their path. They showed up for 6 a.m. practices. They maintain emotional stability under pressure. They stayed out of trouble. They have built strong relationships with teammates and coaches. They dealt with the brutal adjustment to professional baseball.
Both of these barriers have filtered out more players, even very talented players. However, for the players who successfully broke through the barrier, each barrier meant fewer opponents left standing.
Think about how many obstacles stand between you and your next opportunity. Each of these obstacles serves one purpose, which is to eliminate your competition before the real evaluation begins. Every demand that makes you hesitate is to quietly remove thousands of others from the race.