Accepting limits, Seth Godin

It's absurd to look at a three year old toddler and say, "this kid can't read or do math. He's never going to amount to anything." No, we don't say that because we know we can teach and motivate the typical kid to be able to do all of these things.

Why is it okay, then, to look at a teenager and say, "this kid will never be a leader, never run a significant organization, never save a life, never inspire or create...". Never mind a teenager. I think it's wrong to say that about someone who's fifty.

Isn't it absurd to focus so much energy to prepare someone for following instructions, but avoid the work necessary to push someone to reinvent themselves into becoming someone who makes a difference? And isn't it even worse to write off a person or an organization merely because of what they are? ..instead of what they might become?