You’ve got to believe you can be a standup before you can be a standup. You have to believe you can act before you can act. You have to believe you can be an astronaut before you can be an astronaut. You’ve got to believe.
Interpretation
Believing in yourself is the first step to achieving your goals.
Eddie Izzard emphasizes the fundamental role of self-belief in achieving any aspiration. Whether one wants to be a comedian, an actor, or an astronaut, the journey begins with the confidence that it is possible to reach that goal. Without this foundational belief, taking the necessary actions toward success becomes significantly more challenging.
In practice
During a motivational speech to inspire students to pursue their dreams.
We stole countries with the cunning use of flags. Just sail around the world and stick a flag in. "I claim India for Britain!" They're going "You can't claim us, we live here! Five hundred million of us!" "Do you have a flag …? "No..." "Well, if you don't have a flag, then you can't have a country. Those are the rules... that I just made up!
I never thought very many people in the world were very much like John Laroche, but I realized more and more that he was only an extreme, not an aberration - that most people in some way or another do strive for something exceptional, something to pursue, even at their peril, rather than abide an ordinary life.
When it's been a long day of climbing, and I feel like I can't go any farther, I concentrate on the next three feet. And then the next three feet; and then the next three feet. Pretty soon, I'm at the top.
Don't think about your errors or failures; otherwise, you'll never do a thing.
You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed.
When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don't let anyone stand in your way. His validation just made it all the more true. I haven't stopped thanking him since.
I believe that constant effort, tireless effort, pursuing clear goals with sincere effort is the only way
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