“Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function of and duty of a quality human is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.
I have come to discover through earnest personal experience and dedicated learning that ultimately the greatest help is self-help-doing one’s best, dedicating one’s self wholeheartedly to a given task, which happens to have no end but is an on-going process.”
– Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a college drop out who was once told he never fight and suffered the humiliation of seeing a TV show he was asked to create given to another actor. Alvin Alvin Soon’s post about Bruce Lee describes a man determined to find success by continually seeking improvement – inside and out. It also has an amazing video that’s worth checking out.
Stories like these are important to remember because adversities and challenges are a part of success. In fact, they are what will make you successful. There’s a story of a man who was told by God to wake each morning and push against a huge boulder in his yard. Each morning, this man would wake early, get dressed and push and strain against the weight of the boulder, but to no avail. The rock could not be moved. Day after day, week after week, and month after month, his struggle continued until a full year had passed.
In utter and complete defeat, the man apologized to God for his failure. But God said “you have not failed. I asked you to push against this rock, and that is what you have done. You have grown in discipline, patience and persistence. And look at your body. You have grown massive arms and legs and your back is strong. You are ready for real work.”
There’s one thing that successful people and non-successful people have in common: failure. The difference is that successful people learn from their failures and try again. They understand that life is about “sincere and honest development of one’s potential.” This is true success.
Bruce Lee became a star. But even if he hadn’t, his understanding and pursuit of self-development guaranteed him a successful life. He understood the joy of exploring his potential regardless of where it might ultimately lead.
And I wish the same for you.
