“I find that the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes
I understand how challenging change can be. I’ve faced it more times than I can count—especially right now. Starting fresh and building a business from scratch demands everything you have and then some. Even if you’ve succeeded before, each new venture presents obstacles that can lead to feelings of despair and doubt.
However, every failure, every setback, every mistake is where you are right now. Just keep moving forward. You don’t lose if you fail. You only lose if you quit. As the late, great mentor of mine and “Remover of Obstacles,” Van Carrigan says, “I ain’t never learned nuthin’ in good times!”
We all share a common truth: we win some, we lose some. Yet, when it comes to lasting change, more often than not, we face setbacks. What I fervently pray for, what I wish I could discuss with you every day to inspire action, is that losing does not equate to stopping. The world needs us to understand this, and our Creator is counting on us to see that setbacks are simply part of the journey, not the end.
It’s our perception that gives meaning to our circumstances. For one person, something seemingly catastrophic can be a blessing in disguise. For another, the very same circumstance could be the proverbial ‘end of the world’… who’s right? As Shakespeare so brilliantly wrote over four centuries ago, “Nothing is neither good nor bad but thinking makes it so.”
“Not stopping” is what sets a champion apart from everyone else. Everyone fails. If everything is going your way, you’re probably going the wrong way. In fact, if you’re really trying to make a difference, you’ll fail even more than the average person.
(In case you didn’t get that…ahem…’ you’ll fail even more; the bigger the prize, the bigger the price, and the prize is always greater!’)
Failing and quitting make you average. Failing and continuing make you better! Fail, but never give up. Never, ever, ever give up. Just start where you are and keep moving forward.
Nothing is more certain than the failure of a man who quits and the success of one who never will.
Be Larger Than…
