From Failure To Victory; The Cats Out Of The Bag!

Did you ever think that all of the great heroes we read about may not have been particularly great men in and of themselves? They may not have been born with any great skills, talents or abilities. But, each of them did have one special quality that we would all do well to cultivate.

A Tough Nut To Crack!

Because of my passion for recording and singing I've had the opportunity to meet some really famous people. And, one thing I have discovered about these people is that they have a "never say quit philosophy." They have a bull dog tenacity that would make a snapping turtle jealous.

A side thought just in case you have never heard; the saying goes that a snapping turtle, if it bites you, won't let go till it thunders. I don't know if it is true or not and couldn't care less because I don't let snapping turtles bite me. So, back to my point.

Live And Learn!

The stories I have been told by these famous people is sometimes shocking and very inspiring. I won't mention any names but one in particular comes to mind. See if you can relate to this tragedy to triumph.

His passion was for music, as mine is, and during the early years of his struggle, to reach the top, he lived in an apartment with no bathroom. After a short while he got kicked out, which he says was not a big loss; then he lived in a convertible automobile with a leaky top.

He literally and he truthfully swears he lived off of cat food in a can for a year. It took him almost twenty years to have his first number one hit. And, that means twenty years of playing the honky tonks for peanuts with no success any where in sight.

Never Look Back!

His story really made me think; how much do we really want success? How much blood are we willing to give? What kind of a price are you willing to pay for that elusive dream that captivates and mesmerizes you?

For my friend that I've mentioned, there was no price too great, no sacrifice too large, no limits he placed on himself, except for breaking the law, he never crossed that line, but he was willing to pull out all stops to have what he dreamed.

His Goose Is Cooked!

His father even tried to bribe him with money to forget the crazy notion of pursuing music. He decided to stay in his leaky roof convertible and, he said by that time, he had started to like cat food. Yuk! His father said; dumb decision boy!

His father asked him; ok, how long are you going to pursue this? He told his father he had placed a limit on the timeframe and said that it was one hundred years. If he didn't succeed after one hundred years he would quit. His father said; dumb decision boy!

Pinch Me To See If I'm Dreaming!

I tell you this story not to insinuate that this is the kind of life a person must endure in order to have great success. But, to share with you that here was an ordinary person with no extra special gifts, just a never quitting attitude, that caused him to be living his dream today.

If there is any quality that separates the successful person from the failure, it is persistence; Not talent, not ability, not education. And over and over I have been told by some big name people how hard the struggles were to reach the top.

Persistence is like the object in motion. It takes more energy to stop it than for it to continue its course. Starting the object is where most of the energy is used. And, it's the same in pursuing success.

You Can Bet Your Bottom Dollar!

Everyone wants to be a success in life, but unless you make a commitment to never say quit, you will have a lot of opportunities to fail. The comforting thing is; life will never quit on us, it will keep presenting us with opportunities to succeed, many of which will look like you'll be up to your neck in alligators.

You may have a problem now that you've tried and tried to overcome. You many have even said, "I've fought this thing so long." What's the use, I'll never win. I have just one word of encouragement for you: Just remember; "Cat Food!"

When I first decided that I was not meant to work for someone else, a friend gave me a poem that I want to reprint here. The author of this poem is unknown, and I'm sure some of you will have seen it and I'm sure a lot of you haven't. It was an inspiration to me when I first read it and I've kept a plaque of it for many years. The title is; "Don't Quit".

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, as every one of us sometimes learns, And many a fellow turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seem slow, You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than, it seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor's cup, And, he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt. And, you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar, so stick to the fight when you're the hardest hit, It's when things seems worst that you must not quit. (Author Unknown)

Worth Its Weight In Gold!

If you won't quit, your faith in yourself and the goodness of God will see you through. Remember, with you and God, you can turn failure into victory.

Richard Vegas ©

About The Author

Richard Vegas is a popular recording artist and internet marketing professional. He invites you to subscribe to his FREE weekly ezine "Wing-Tips" Teaching The Success System That Never Fails, at: http://www.1-work-at-home-based-business-opportunities.com. You may also hear some of Richard's free music at: http://www.richardvegas.com.

webmaster@1-work-at-home-bas ed-business-opportunities.com

In The News:


Leadership Fight Frays Socialist Party in France
Washington Post, United States - 11 hours ago
... the main opposition to President Nicolas Sarkozy, fell into full disarray Saturday over a backbiting leadership struggle that betrayed deep divisions ...
French Socialists in disarray after leadership vote International Herald Tribune
Aubry wins French Socialist Party leadership The Associated Press
Aubry wins French Socialist leadership United Press International
Independent - International Herald Tribuneall 673 news articles

Leadership at the summit
Baltimore Sun, United States - 8 hours ago
With Don Schmincke, a Maryland-based business consultant, Warner has written a book, "High Altitude Leadership: What the World's Most Forbidding Peaks Teach ...

Key leadership posts up for vote in Kansas Legislature on Dec. 1
Kansas City Star, MO - 12 hours ago
1, Kansas lawmakers will vote on key leadership posts, deciding who writes the legislative agenda, appoints committees and manages the flow of bills. ...

Washington Post

It seems Warriors GM Chris Mullin could be part of Knicks ...
New York Daily News, NY - 19 hours ago
With the trade of Al Harrington to the Knicks, the curtain has come down on Chris Mullin's reign as general manager of the Warriors. ...
Team leadership, players aren't merely biding their time before ... Newsday
all 717 news articles

Vancouver Sun

Congressional Leadership Rejects Proposed Auto Bailout Deal
Washington Post, United States - Nov 20, 2008
By Lori Montgomery and Kendra Marr Lawmakers failed to reach agreement today on a proposal to provide $25 billion in emergency aid to the ailing auto ...
SHERMAN FREDERICK: Obama's woe: Pelosi, Reid, Frank 'n' Dodd Las Vegas Review - Journal
Dems turn defensive on auto bailout San Francisco Chronicle
Democratic leaders balk at auto rescue compromise Kansas City Star
CQPolitics.com - Investor's Business Daily (subscription)all 3,621 news articles

Times Online

Hillary Clinton to State or to Senate Leadership?
U.S. News & World Report, DC - Nov 21, 2008
At best she could negotiate some highly influential leadership post for herself, which the party and Democrats in the Senate more than owe her following her ...
Video: New US Administration to clean up the mess RussiaToday
An Option for Clinton: Enhanced Senate Role New York Times
Senate leadership role for Hillary? Politico
NY1 - Media Matters for Americaall 3,320 news articles

Leadership, one day at a time
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 13 hours ago
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairwoman and former chief executive of Carlson Cos., will speak on leadership in a Dec. 2 program at San Francisco's Commonwealth ...

BBC News

myth of global financial mess, competition: China, India, US ...
Cleveland Indy Media, OH - 14 hours ago
22, 2008 at 8:05 PM Is the deep-seated financial crisis of US and Europe leading to political, economic, and leadership crisis in view of surging China and ...
Video: Bush Says Goodbye To APEC CBS
Apec leaders make free-trade vow BBC News
Asia's economy could use its own Gordon Brown Asbury Park Press
ABC News - The Australianall 3,448 news articles

Bristol Herald Courier

PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Hash, Patton Provide Leadership For Warriors
Bristol Herald Courier, TN - 11 hours ago
Chilhowie’s Krystal Patton drives to the basket in a game played last season in Smyth County. By Tim Hayes BY TIM HAYES Chilhowie High School juniors ...

Goal.com

Wenger: I don't believe in leadership
guardian.co.uk, UK - 16 hours ago
Questioned as to whether an absence of leadership was evident in the defeat, Wenger argued that Arsenal's worst League result in almost two years had been ...
Arsenal captain William Gallas should be thrown overboard by ... Telegraph.co.uk
Why has Arsene abandoned everything that worked before? Arsenal-Land
Gallas replaced by Almunia as Arsenal skipper CNN International
This is London - Independentall 1,113 news articles
leadership - Google News

5 Tips to Help You Win Big & Become a Village Hero

A few years ago, I returned to my impoverished village... Read More

The Goals of Leadership Coaching and Partnerships

Webster's Dictionary describes a "partner" as an ally or an... Read More

Peek Inside The Heads of Amazingly Successful Leaders

Would you like to know what really goes on inside... Read More

In Leadership, The Eight Ways Of Right Action (Part 1)

The ancient Greeks had a saying: "When Aschines speaks, the... Read More

In Leadership, The Eight Ways Of Right Action (Part 2)

In Part 1, I said that leaders who can't have... Read More

Dissolving Conflict Through Reframing

Reframing is looking at the situation with a new set... Read More

Choose Your Best Life: Where Are Your Choices Leading You?

According to the dictionary choice means "to select freely after... Read More

10 Smart Ways Leaders Can Bring Out the Best in Others

You are a leader. Everyone is a leader. It doesn't... Read More

The Defining Moment: The Straw That Stirs The Drink Of Motivational Leadership (Part One)

Decades ago, as a rifle platoon commander in the Marines,... Read More

Be the Samurai Sword

Relationships are constantly facing crisis. Everywhere we look people are... Read More

Reinventing Failure: Designing Success

I am fascinated by problems. I like to think of... Read More

Two Leadership Traps: How To Get Out Of Them and How To Avoid Them (Part 1)

You've heard of the Peter Principle: "People are promoted to... Read More

Act on Some of the Facts

Making any decision without having all of the information and... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About How to See the Talents of Effective Leaders

An organization of any size, from the family to the... Read More

Supervisor Training: Helpful Tips to Lead Your Pack

A new supervisor is hired to anchor a gardening project... Read More

Leadership Skill Training

Quality leadership is a positive asset that is needed in... Read More

5 Steps on How to Set and Achieve Your Goals

Which one is a goal? I will lose 15... Read More

The Qualities of Skillful Leadership

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality... Read More

A Call to Men to Live a Strenuous Life!

Any man would be justly proud to claim even a... Read More

The Synergy Effect

Have you ever considered that everything you want in life... Read More

Abe Lincoln: An Extraordinary Leader

Perhaps noted as one of the greatest United States presidents... Read More

The Seven Mistakes to Avoid when Organising Your Student Leadership Program

How do you measure the success of a training or... Read More

The Leader Within

Each and every one of you has hidden deep inside... Read More

Five Steps Towards Greater Self Confidence

We watch the star athlete calmly make the final shot,... Read More

The Challenge to Lead

The topic of leadership has been and continues to be... Read More