Having dreams is one thing; taking the steps to achieve those goals is another matter entirely. To a man born in Budapest in the early twentieth century, dreaming of being one of the world’s top performers and a household name would have seemed as outlandish as winning the lottery. Yet from his humble beginnings, Erik Weisz reinvented himself into the man known around the world as Harry Houdini and propelled himself to fame—sometimes literally. What’s more, Houdini reached his goals the old fashioned way: through hard work. Years of toiling in circuses eventually allowed Houdini to get his big break in New York City, and from there, he made history. His feats of magic and physical prowess have made marks on millions, inspiring people young and old to pursue their dreams and reach what others claim to be impossible.
Hard work, perseverance, and patience are the cornerstones of success. When Daniel’s teacher Mrs. Thorpe urges him to focus on pragmatism and science, what she really meant was that Daniel should stick to the basics, the ground rules of hard work (“Show Me Impossible”). However, what Mrs. Thorpe did not understand completely was that Daniel could apply his diligence and perseverance not...
Daniel admired Houdini because he made the impossible into something real, and Daniel also understood that Houdini did have to practice hard to perfect his tricks (“Houdini”). Indeed, Houdini did work hard, which is why his tricks were more than just illusions and tricks. Houdini did do a lot of physical work to entertain his audiences. To fulfill one’s dreams, one must take small steps each and every day, practicing, honing one’s skills, and never giving up.
In addition to hard work, wisdom is also critical for achieving goals. Daniel understood the need to balance the practical wisdom that his teachers and parents pointed out for him with the type of wisdom Houdini embodied in his life’s work (“Show Me Impossible”). If Daniel is to reach the same heights as Houdini in his career, then he will continue needing the ability to discern between naysayers who only focus on the negative and who discourage people from pursuing lofty goals from actual practical or sound advice. Wisdom is what Houdini must have cultivated through his many experiences, immigrating to America, working in Wisconsin in the…
