Finding Success? The Secret - You Just Never Give Up!

I'm in my usual Sunday Morning Reflections mode, but probably more relevant than usual.  We're all up early this morning. It's going to be a gorgeous day and we're headed for the beach, before the rest of Florida shows up. I've noticed we rarely last past noon on the weekends, because around 11:00 am the whole world shows up with their giant umbrellas and tents. I don't understand going to the beach if you're going to set up a tent bigger than your living room! However, it's pure entertainment to watch people fumble around setting up their homes for the day!

Anyway, I found the perfect quote for a Sunday morning from Michael Jordan, who I got to meet in my Polaroid days. We hired him to shake hands with people in the booth at a PMA convention in Chicago one year and I was in charge of the booth. It's great when your heroes are exactly the way you hope they'll be. He's as nice as he is a great athlete.

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. 
I've lost almost 300 games; 26 times, 
I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. 
I've failed over and over again in my life. 
And that's why I succeed."

So, as always, here's my point, which I honestly don't need to explain very much. Most of the time "success" is elusive, because your definition of it is constantly changing, especially as you get older. Your priorities change as you learn more and your skill set grows. Sometimes success is going to be entirely monetary, but at other times, it's as simple as a kind word from a client who's happy with your work.

Stop looking for success as if you were on the Easter Egg hunt on the White House lawn. Learn to trust your inner voice and just don't give up the quest to be the best on whatever path you've chosen. Most important of all, remember to take a break when you need it. Give yourself at least one day a week where you just enjoy your family and friends and put work aside. Take the time to kick back and remember why you're working so hard and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Here's one more quote from motivational speaker, Ed Foreman...

                “Life is primarily for laughing, loving, and living. It ain’t just for whining, worrying, and working!”

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and a day filled with nothing but smiles and enjoying the security of knowing that whatever path you're on, it's taking you some place different every day. And, as always, hug somebody special and hold it for eleven seconds. (Trust me, it makes a difference.)

Image Credit:  SI's 100 Best Michael Jordan Photos - click to see more.