Harvey Mackay Column for the week of September 28, 2009 Trying Times are No Time to Quit Trying Print Forums Refer Page

When the going gets tough, such as it is for so many right now, it's time to make a trip to the zoo for inspiration. That's where you'll find my ingredients for success: a hide like a hippopotamus, the courage of a lion, the memory of an elephant, the perseverance of a beaver, the endurance of an Alaskan sled dog, the speed of a greyhound, the agility of a monkey and the stubbornness of a mule. One of those traits, perseverance, stands out during down times, when we are so often tempted to give up. Marshall Field, the famed Chicago department store merchant, once offered a list of 12 reminders to those who would have happiness and success in life. Number two on the list was perseverance. In building a firm foundation for success, Forbes Scrapbook of Thoughts on the Business of Life listed 20 steps, including perseverance.

One of the greatest pleasures in life is doing what people say you can't. When things seem bleakest, you have to carry on to succeed.

Businessman H. Ross Perot said: "A lesson I've learned from the lives of great inventors ... the most successful people in the world aren't the brightest. They are the ones who persevere."

And finally, oil magnate John D. Rockefeller added: "I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."

I'll never forget watching The David Susskind Show years ago. He had three guests on who were self-made millionaires. These men, in their mid-thirties, had averaged being in a dozen different businesses before they hit it big.

The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it; so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many people have thrown up their hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success?

In business, prospects may seem darkest when really they are about to turn. A little more perseverance, a little more effort, and what seemed a hopeless failure may turn into a glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying.

History abounds with tales of perseverance. Theodore Geisel died in 1991 at the age of 87. Before he died, he wrote 47 books that sold more than 100 million copies in 18 languages. What most people don't know about Dr. Seuss is that he didn't write his first book until he was 33 and it was rejected by 28 publishers before Vanguard Press picked it up.

Then there was a little girl from Tennessee who was born to face poverty, obesity, a broken home and physical abuse. Today, Oprah Winfrey is one of the most admired celebrities in the world.

Similarly there are many tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas, plans and projects of others could never be achieved. However, accomplishment came to those who said, "I can make it happen."

• The Italian sculptor Agostino d'Antonio worked diligently on a large piece of marble. Unable to produce his desired masterpiece, he lamented, "I can do nothing with it." Other sculptors also worked this difficult piece of marble, but to no avail. Michelangelo discovered the stone and visualized the possibilities in it. His perseverance resulted in one of the world's masterpieces—his statue of David.
• Even the great Thomas Edison discouraged his friend, Henry Ford, from pursuing his fledgling idea of a motorcar. Convinced of the worthlessness of the idea, Edison invited Ford to come and work for him. Ford remained committed and tirelessly pursued his dream. Although his first attempt resulted in a vehicle without reverse gear, Henry Ford knew he could make it happen. And, of course, he did.
• "Forget it," the experts advised Madame Curie. They agreed radium was a scientifically impossible idea. However, Madame Curie insisted, "I can make it happen."
• Finally, as you read these accounts under the magnificent light of your environment, consider the plight of Benjamin Franklin. He was admonished to stop his foolish experiments with lightning. What an absurdity and waste of time! Why, nothing could outdo the fabulous oil lamp! Thank goodness Franklin knew he could make it happen.

You too can make it happen!

Mackay's Moral: Never give up: The mighty oak was once a little nut that held its ground.

The Author Harvey Mackay is a nationally syndicated columnist for United Feature Syndicate. His weekly articles appear in 52 newspapers around the country, including the Chicago Sun Times, Rocky Mountain News, Orange County Register, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Arizona Republic. http://www.mackay.com/ Copyright, Harvey Mackay. All rights reserved.