Psst… Would you like to know a secret?

If you’re like most people you probably do. Why? Because we humans tend to love having special knowledge about things. It makes us feel.. well; special.

Have you ever heard of the strangest secret in the world? If you’re younger than me then most likely you haven’t. So, I’d like to share it with you. The thing is it’s not really a secret at all. In fact, we live with it every day and yet most of us don’t realize we are.

There was man named Earl Nightingale who was as an American radio speaker and author. He spoke mostly about human character development, motivation, and what some might call the meaningful existence of mankind. Most refer to it today as personal development.

In 1956 he produced a spoken word record called “The Strangest Secret”. At the time, it was a bit of a sensation and sold more than a million copies, making it the first spoken word recording to achieve Gold Record status. That was quite a feat back then!

But that was a long time ago, and the recording, though still available in various media formats and platforms, was for a time, mostly forgotten, becoming a kind of secret of its own. Which is unfortunate because it revealed something that once it became known could change your life.

The secret Mr. Nightingale revealed in short is this: We become what we think about.

Seems obvious, right? Of course we become what we think about. But have you ever really contemplated the impact this has on your life? What about its impact of the studies of science, tech, engineering, the arts and math?

Yes, Earl Nightingale said it decades ago, but I’d like to propose to you that success in STEAM isn’t just about talent. It’s also about a mindset. Simply put, we become what we think about most.

It’s the open secret everyone knows yet doesn’t understand.

If you tell yourself you’re “not a math person,” your brain will make sure that story is true. But if you decide you’re becoming someone who solves problems, builds things, and learns from failure, you’re already on the path to being that person. What you think becomes what you do. And once you can fully understand this, it will have a tremendous impact on your life and, by effect, the lives of others.

Some of the best-known programmers, engineers and inventors weren’t always considered the smartest ones in class. People known as technology game changers like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates were initially looked down on because they dropped out of college. But they were focused on what mattered most to them.

Instead, they were the ones who stuck with it, who took one small action every day and stayed curious when things went wrong. They asked the questions that mattered most. They set clear goals. They protected their mental space. In doing so, they changed how we today live and work.

So can you!

Most people follow the crowd. They settle. But STEAM needs more explorers—more young minds who think for themselves and push past what’s “normal.” You don’t have to wait to become one of them.

So, you see, the secret isn’t strange at all! It’s simple: your thoughts shape your future, so focus on what matters most to you.

Here’s my call to action: Today, write down one STEAM goal that you’d like to achieve, think about it every day, and each day take one small action toward it. Repeat these steps on as many goals you set your heart on and see the good results that come.

That’s how the future gets built. If you’re like most people you probably do. Why? Because we humans tend to love having special knowledge about things. It makes us feel.. well; special.

Have you ever heard of the strangest secret in the world? If you’re younger than me then most likely you haven’t. So, I’d like to share it with you. The thing is it’s not really a secret at all. In fact, we live with it every day and yet most of us don’t realize we are.

There was man named Earl Nightingale who was as an American radio speaker and author. He spoke mostly about human character development, motivation, and what some might call the meaningful existence of mankind. Most refer to it today as personal development.

In 1956 he produced a spoken word record called “The Strangest Secret”. At the time, it was a bit of a sensation and sold more than a million copies, making it the first spoken word recording to achieve Gold Record status. That was quite a feat back then!

But that was a long time ago, and the recording, though still available in various media formats and platforms, was for a time, mostly forgotten, becoming a kind of secret of its own. Which is unfortunate because it revealed something that once it became known could change your life.

The secret Mr. Nightingale revealed in short is this: We become what we think about.

Seems obvious, right? Of course we become what we think about. But have you ever really contemplated the impact this has on your life? What about its impact of the studies of science, tech, engineering, the arts and math?

Yes, Earl Nightingale said it decades ago, but I’d like to propose to you that success in STEAM isn’t just about talent. It’s also about a mindset. Simply put, we become what we think about most.

It’s the open secret everyone knows yet doesn’t understand.

If you tell yourself you’re “not a math person,” your brain will make sure that story is true. But if you decide you’re becoming someone who solves problems, builds things, and learns from failure, you’re already on the path to being that person. What you think becomes what you do. And once you can fully understand this, it will have a tremendous impact on your life and, by effect, the lives of others.

Some of the best-known programmers, engineers and inventors weren’t always considered the smartest ones in class. People known as technology game changers like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates were initially looked down on because they dropped out of college. But they were focused on what mattered most to them.

Instead, they were the ones who stuck with it, who took one small action every day and stayed curious when things went wrong. They asked the questions that mattered most. They set clear goals. They protected their mental space. In doing so, they changed how we today live and work.

So can you!

Most people follow the crowd. They settle. But STEAM needs more explorers—more young minds who think for themselves and push past what’s “normal.” You don’t have to wait to become one of them.

So, you see, the secret isn’t strange at all! It’s simple: your thoughts shape your future, so focus on what matters most to you.

Here’s my call to action: Today, write down one STEAM goal that you’d like to achieve, think about it every day, and each day take one small action toward it. Repeat these steps on as many goals you set your heart on and see the good results that come.

That’s how the future gets built.

About the Author

Marc has been a Newsletter Content Contributor with Pink Space Theory since March 2023. Based in Northern California, he enjoys using his creativity to craft engaging STEAM articles that educate and inspire the families we serve. With a passion for storytelling and a keen interest in STEAM education, Marc helps make complex concepts accessible and exciting for young learners.