I think Barack Obama must be so tired of hearing that. It totally minimizes who he is, and the personal preparation he has done, and organization he has created to win the Presidency and subsequently run the country. Barack Obama is NOT anybody. He has unique talents and has spent his life educating himself and taking on experiences to make himself into a person who is qualified to be President. Yes, I understand the phrase as a mantra to inspire children. And it can be argued that the racial barrier to the Presidency has been broken for African-Americans…if not for women or Hispanics or Asian-Americans. But please, give the man some credit! Obama’s election does not mean that now “anybody can be President.”
True not just “anybody” can be president. Gotta have lots of money.
Unfortunately, the same is true of running. Not just “anybody” can win a marathon. Training can only take you so far.
Hi Perry, Sports are a great corollary. Some top athletes will say it is all just hard work. Maybe they don’t want to admit that part of their success is just an accident of nature. I remember listening to Arnold Palmer assert throughout an interview that anyone could do what he had with hard work. I imagine there are many examples to the contrary; men and women who have who have worked very hard, some maybe harder than Palmer, and tried, but failed to earn their PGA/LPGA tour card. In my case, no matter how much I train, I will never run much faster than a 10 min/mile over any distance greater than a few yards.