Keeping the Faith

This story from the book, “The Power of Attitude ” by Mac Anderson inspired me and hope it will inspire you as well. 

Even with goals, passion, and purpose in our lives, we’re all faced with adversity…and how we react to adversity will dictate our success or failure.  There are many roadblocks, detours, and potholes along the way.  Sometimes your courage may wane, and your heart may doubt.  You’ll want to quit.  You’ll need all the help you can find to get through these difficult times.
 
I know because as an entrepreneur, living my dream, I’ve been there.  Some of the greatest inspirations that I draw on during tough times are examples from those who have gone before me.  People who have faced setbacks, and yet had the courage and the strength to persevere…to hang on while the storms blew through.
 
Persistence kept Walt Disney pursuing his dreams, despite having to declare bankruptcy five times.
 
Although Helen Keller had every reason in the world to feel sorry for herself, she chose not to.  Her persistence despite overwhelming odds still gives inspiration to millions of people. 
 
The example of Abe Lincoln, however, provides me some of my greatest motivation.  His setbacks were devastating.  He failed in business in 1831.  He was defeated for state legislature in 1832.  He tried another business in ’33.  It Failed.  His fiancé died in ’35.  He had a nervous breakdown in ’36.  In ’43 he ran for Congress and was defeated. He tried again in ’48 and was defeated again.  He tried running for the Senate in ’55.  He lost.  The next year he ran for vice president and lost.  In ’59 he ran for the Senate again and was defeated again.  Finally in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the sixteenth president of the United States, and you know the rest of the story.
 
Recently I visited with Mark Victor Hanson, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul.  Mark shared his story of approaching thirty-five different publishers before the thirty-fifth finally said “Yes” and sold seventy-five million copies, making it one of the best selling book series of all time.  Just think, thirty-five people said “No…We don’t want your book.” What if Mark had decided to quit after the nineteenth, twenty-fifth or even the thirty-fourth?  Mark’s unwavering passion for the project gave him the fuel and the courage to persevere.  And as a result hundreds of positive, real life stories have inspired millions of people.
 
Passion, belief, and self-trust are the fuel for a positive attitude that causes us to be totally committed to a goal.  Giving up is not an option.

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