NOT LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF ALL

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."

George Bernard Shaw, late 19th/early 20th century Irish playwright.

True for many reasons including the fact that making mistakes suggests an effort, the resulting mistakes notwithstanding.

And even more than that, because we can learn so much from whatever mistakes we make, assuming we choose to do so.

TIME TO QUIT? PROBABLY NOT

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."

Confucius, 5th century BC Chinese philosopher

We all have a lot of quit in us, often too much for our own good.

Don't you beat you.

Lose by some means other than your own.

WHEN YOU THINK YOU SHOULD, DON'T!

"It's always too soon to quit."

Norman Vincent Peale, 20th century American minister/author

Not exactly; there are times when you need to recognize that, all your efforts notwithstanding, you will not achieve your goal.

But not quitting soon enough is not the problem for most of us.

All too often we quit way too soon.

I can't tell you when you should give up but I know it's not the first time you think you should.

NO STRAIGHTLINE SUCCESS

"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first."

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) British poet/playwright.

And in the beginning of your quest for success there is little but steep hills; obstacles you must overcome if you are to succeed.

Take your time, keep going, and your chance for success increase greatly.

YOU'RE NOT DEFEATED UNTIL YOU QUIT

"Failure is in a sense the highway to success, as each discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true."

John Keats (1795-1821) British poet.

Each failure should cause us to seek what is true, however, unfortunately, all too often that's not the case. 

Instead many simply give up.

Total failure only happens when you no longer try to succeed.

DARK NIGHT "BOXES" WILL GIVE WAY

"Even from a dark night, songs of beauty can be born."

Mary Anne Radmacher, author/artist

This truth is not always obvious, those "dark nights" not easy to live through.

Surrounded by box mountains about to fall down upon us.

However, night's do end, new days begin, we do get through.

Whatever today's burden, persevere; better times will come whether you believe they will or not.

THE TIME TO QUIT

"When I have fully decided that a result is worth getting I go ahead of it and make trial after trial until it comes."

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) American inventor.

Let's be real; sometimes failure is the ultimate outcome.

Nothing wrong with that as long as it comes after too numerous attempts to count, certainly way, way after the first.

THE SECRET TO (THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS) OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

"Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot be coaxed or bribed; pay the price and it is yours."

Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924) Founder of Success magazine.

True for anything worth achieving.

There are no shortcuts.

Want whatever you want but work hard for whatever you must get.

WHY YOU MUST KEEP TRYING

"Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments."

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American politician.

You wouldn't know what success was if you'd never failed.

But don't think failure alone is the road to success, it's not.

When you identify what doesn't work, create a plan you hope will work.

If it doesn't, make a new plan.

If you fall, pick yourself up and try again; never stop trying.

YOU ARE BOTH

"The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't."

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American politician.

The person who perseveres will get to the end of this seemingly never ending road, the obstinate one, who refuses to begin, won't.

The optimist or the pessimist?

We are all both at different times, our success or failure determined by how much of each, how often.

NOT TRYING: ANOTHER FORM OF LOSING

"A winner loses more often than losers."

Unknown

And loses more often than wins, both because they try to win while others don't.

But don't kid yourself, not trying is just another form of losing.

GETTING THERE

"Consider the postage stamp, my son. It secures success through its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there."

Josh Billings (1815-1885) American humorist/lecturer

And you will too assuming you do as the postage stamp does.

Happy new year and good luck with this year's goals!

DWIGHT AND STEVE KNEW

"Pessimism never won any battle."

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) 34th President of the United States

Whether those battles be in war, politics, or business.

Give up if you like but success will ultimately come to those who persevere.

I CAN/WILL DO THIS(?/!)

"Energy and persistence alter all things."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman/scientist/philosopher

Pretty ambitious to say "all" things but I can easily imagine many to most.

When planning new ventures do you take your energy and ability to persevere into account?

You should.

YOU'RE NOT THROUGH YET

"How do you know if your mission in life is finished? If you're still alive, it isn't."

Richard Bach

20th century American writer

We could parse "alive", deciding that merely existing does not qualify, but let's not.

As long as you or your business can continue in some form, your "mission" is not finished.

You may need to change what and how you do things but you are not finished.

ONE AND DONE?

"Finite to fail, but infinite to venture."

Emily Dickinson

19th century American poet

And yet for many of us, a couple of failures is all it takes to stop completely.

Don't! 

Keep Going!

You Have to Work For it

"Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, than of means, that men fail to succeed."

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

17th century French writer

There's more to wanting change than wanting change.

You have to work for it.

You Have To Choose

"Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait a long time for roast duck to drop in."

Confucius

5th century BC Chinese philosopher

Wanting, hoping, wishing, expecting . . . none of these will in and of themselves get you what you want.

Neither will working hard insure you will achieve your goals.

But if you were going to bet on just one, which would it be?

As Much As Necessary

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying."

Michael Jordon

20th century American basketball player

Contributed by David Kaplan

Executive Director

www.digitaldeliverygroup.org/

This sentiment has been expressed by a number of sports celebrities in addition to Mr. Jordon.

Few people I know would disagree with it.

But when it comes to actually doing what this says, many of us fall short.

Do you always/mostly/never try, regardless of the odds?

Just A Little More!

"The only failure a man should fear is failing to cleave to the purpose he sees as best."

 George Eliot

19th century British writer

And right behind that would be failing to recognize the need to let go.

But between the two, Mr. Eliot is right; whether it be a professional or personal goal, people give up much to easily.

You want it?  Work for it!