What are the odds?

I had a conversation with a friend a few days ago, about me getting into Harvard Business School. With a 720 in GMAT , and an entrepreneurial spirit through which I started New Age Media, Arogya Medical Services and helping my dad with his new Private Equity fund, I don't think I have any lack of work experience. His mention was that 720 is probably not enough to cut through the slack, and in addition I would need a good deal of work ex.

"What are the odds?" He said

I couldn't help but be a little defensive inside, but I said "nobody ever got anything (worthwhile) done by caring for the odds". I stand by it, and of course its true - if I think about the odds, I can guarantee that there are a number people smarter than me, have better work ex and have better skills at x, y and z. That said, if I was to care for the odds, I'd probably give up even before I started. I'm passionate about HBS not for the name but what I get out of it - and its not the prestige or the money. Ill be fine without either - and what I can give back.

The more I thought about it, the sadder I became in believing that maybe he has a point, but after a point, I knew inside that he doesn't. I believe in myself and in my potential. I'm certainly not going to let such a negative comment bother me, as if such negativity hadn't already had done enough damage in this world. It's a little harsh I know to say such a thing, but its not untrue. We all have to only believe that we can, and be realistic and true to ourselves. If I was to believe that I can do something when clearly my abilities do not and would not sustain me for such an activity (eg., basketball, I suck at it) then I would be delusional.

Someone somewhere with the potential I have is doing exactly what I want to, and I can be sure of that. And you can be sure of that too (about your own potential); then why can't you and I do it?

I'm taking this personally, and although I've got nothing to prove to anybody, for what I think is all that matters to my existence (first hand experience), I've got something to change, something to improve, and something to give back to the world. And I'm on my path to doing it.

However, I can't let it to be supposed that getting into HBS will be the deciding factor in my trying to improve this world as it is - no it wouldn't be, for I'd still be me with or without and outside influence. A right platform like HBS will make my trying more efficient.

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TRB