The Wisdom of Winston

I’ve recently discovered the wisdom in the words of Winston S. Churchill.  Growing up I was enamored with a love of History.  I’ve often wondered why I did not follow that passion.  Many would say that it was a regret of mine, however I’ve come to the conclusion that you simply can’t have regrets in life.  This one has been hard for me to grasp as I do feel regret for certain things in my life.  Some more so than others.  However, when I take a deep hard look at the past 25 years it is not with regret but with a great deal of happiness and joy.  Life has not always been peachy and many forks have arisen in the road.  That’s just how it is, would life even be worth living if you had a predetermined path and you just followed it?

With each passing day I am growing as a person.  I feel like the growth is exponential lately; and its totally internal.  Results and visual growth/achievement have a funny way of hiding themselves until you least expect them.  It is usually the patient who reap these rewards.  As Winston Churchill said, “Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.”  A most valid statement that has a very strong impact on me.  It is essentially the motto or mantra that I base my life around.  This was not something I decided at one point in time but it was something that was fostered and developed from a young age.  I was not the smartest or the most gifted, but what I had was determination.  Determination to succeed by whatever means possible.  Over time the challenge to persevere only grows.  This one hits home for me on a lot of fronts…think about the quote above and how it relates to the sport of triathlon, Winston was pretty much spot on.  Those who succeed do so because they give themselves fully to the task at hand and persevere.

What is the trick?  What is the formula for success?  “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”― Winston S. Churchill  Doesn’t that do a great job of summing it up?  Nobody wants to be around a “loser” or someone who constantly surrounds themselves with negativity and self doubt.  Positive people surround themselves with positive people who have positive energy.  Those that succeed in life and at whatever they set out to accomplish do so because they have a passion.  They have such a belief in themselves that nobody and nothing gets in their way.   For those who can stay positive and optimistic when it is hardest are the ones who come out on the other side winners.  The darkest dark is before the break of dawn right?

Success if also about being blunt.  “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.”― Winston S. Churchill  

“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”― Winston S. Churchill So be ready to attack each and every day.  Be that beacon of light that makes all those around you better.  What better thing can be said about a person than, “They are such a joy to be around” or “I am a better person because of them” or “Its just fun to be around them”.  “Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move thier tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself, believe.”― Winston S. Churchill  So take care of yourself, do what is right and believe wholeheartedly in your way.  Believe in yourself and if you do this your your internal happiness/conviction will shine through to all those around you, lifting them up along with you.