Measuring Success

"I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed."

-- Booker T. Washington

Two Things That Hinder Your Success

“Just two things keep people from being successful: a lack of understanding about how to think about the events and obstacles that happen in life, and the unwillingness to go the extra mile.”

-- James P. Owen

First Be Who You Really Are

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

-- Margaret Young

Jazz Singer (1891–1969)

You Must Want It Desperately

"You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world."

-- Sheila Graham

HollyWood Columnist (1904–88)

The Goals of Your Storm

"Our storms will test us, and our goals will stretch us. (That’s what goals are for. If they don’t stretch us, they aren’t called goals. They are called to dos.) I am learning that God doesn’t touch the butterfly. He allows the struggle because He longs to see the flight."

-- Dondi Scumaci

The Reason To Press Ahead

"Successful people take action as quickly as possible, even though they may perform badly. Instead of trying to avoid making mistakes and failing, they actively seek opportunities where they can face the limits of their skills and knowledge so that they can learn quickly. They understand that feeling afraid or underprepared is a sign of being in the space for optimal growth and is all the more reason to press ahead."

-- Ryan Babineaux

Pivot on Your Strength

"If possible, go for Plan A. And it’s possible more often than not. Pivoting on your strengths beats starting from scratch. Redefine success according to your values, not those of the rest of the world."

-- Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Be Prepared To Commit Totally

"Stacy’s story is a vivid reminder that great achievements come at great cost. To do anything exceptionally challenging, whether it’s climbing a mountain or starting a company, you have to be prepared to commit yourself totally. Without that, it doesn’t matter how heartfelt your dream may be. “The goal is the starting point,” says Stacy. “If you don’t believe in the goal you’ve set, and don’t believe you can achieve it, you’re not going to take the risks to get there. At some point, you’ve just got to jump. You just have to let go of everything that has meant security to you and reach for that strength and courage deep down inside.”"

-- James P. Owen

No Short Cuts in Life

"To accomplish anything worthwhile, and especially to achieve a goal others say is impossible, you have to work your ass off. There are no shortcuts. The only way is the hard way."

-- Jeff Haden

Small That Will Amounts To Something Big

"The pursuit of discipline means being disciplined in all things, especially little things. And time—how we spend it, its tiny increments—is something small that actually amounts to something very large." 

-- Ryan Holiday