Winston Churchill failed sixth grade. He was subsequently defeated in every election for public office until he became Prime Minister at the age of 62. He later wrote, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never -in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up."
Last weekend I ran the New York City Marathon just like I have done many times before. But this time was very different. I had the chance to spend time with someone whom I think exemplifies one of the most important personal traits - persistence with a never-give-up attitude.
About six months ago I challenged my friend Chris Kaag, who is disabled former US Marine and in a wheelchair, to run the NYC marathon. Chris is very adept in hand crank wheelchair racing; however the rules of the NYC marathon require that you use a "push rim wheelchair" to compete in the wheelchair division, which he had never done in his life. Chris accepted my challenge, so he needed to learn a whole new sport in six months if he was going to compete. This was about the equivalent of someone learning to ride a bike and then doing the Tour de France six months later.
Thomas Edison's teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything."
He was fired from his first two jobs for being "non-productive."
As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.
When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied,
"I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."
He was fired from his first two jobs for being "non-productive."
As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.
When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied,
"I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."
On one of the earliest training runs that I did with Chris, he could hardly control the chair. My seven year-old daughter still remembers too vividly how he ran her off the road. He persevered over the ensuing months and then did what in my eyes is the most important component to success - he showed up at the starting line. Anybody that gets to the starting line is a winner. I watched him at the start as he discovered he had brought two left gloves and then rigged them to work (every Marine learns to adapt). The look of fear on his face made me feel that maybe I pushed him too hard, which is a very unusual thought for me. But then, the starting gun went off, the racers started up the Verrazano Bridge, and Chris was off in his first wheelchair race.
Henry Ford could not read nor write, failed and went broke five times in business before he succeeded.
R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York City caught on.
F. W. Woolworth was not allowed to wait on customers when he worked in a dry goods store because, his boss said, "he didn't have enough sense."
The next three plus hours were Hell for Chris. He had difficulty accessing his water supply and became dehydrated. He had trouble working his chair with the rigged gloves. He was not accustomed to his brand new wheelchair. Chris exemplifies in this race and in life the never, never, never-give-up attitude. About 10 years ago he was diagnosed with a horrible disease that has put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Many would spend the rest of their lives depressed, but not Chris. His motto "get up and move" is what keeps him on the go every day and encouraging others to do so.
Chris, thanks for inspiring me and others to never give up!
check out this link for other inspirational figures that never gave up -- http://www.brucemuzik.com/blog/inspiring-stories-never-give-up/
Nickolas Jekogian
CEO
Signature Community
917-763-3500
www.ASignatureCommunity.com
Blog -http://www.nwjceommm.blogspot.com/
"Si3" Signature: Ideas, Innovation, Implementation!
Send ideas to: ideas@asignaturecommunity.com
