I’m reading through John Wooden’s book, “WOODEN: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court”. I came across this and thought I’d share it:
Persistence Is Stronger than Failure
Abraham Lincoln is acknowledged as one of America’s greatest presidents. Here is a brief summary of his career:
1831 - Failed in business
1832 - Defeated for legislature
1833 - Failed in business again
1834 - Elected to legislature
1835 - Sweetheart died
1836 - Had nervous breakdown
1838 - Defeated for speaker
1840 - Defeated for elector
1843 - Defeated for congressional nomination
1846 - Elected to Congress
1848 - Defeated for Congress
1855 - Defeated for Senate
1856 - Defeated for Vice President
1859 - Defeated for Senate
1860 - Elected President of the United States
Few people have suffered more personal, professional, and political adversity than Abraham Lincoln. He persisted in the face of failure and emerged victorious.
Another president, Calvin Coolidge, described it very well:
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
The model Mr. Lincoln gave us with his persistence is one we can remember in the face of our own setbacks. And what is most wondrous of all is that persistence is a quality that we ourselves control. You, and only you, can decide whether you will stay the course.
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