In this world of exaggerated ambition, what is the true opposite of success?
Failure?
At first, it would seem so, but take a momemt to consider the common light bulb. Legend has it that Thomas Edison, the light bulb patent owner, had ten thousand failed attempts at the now-common-household necessity, before making a working prototype.
In an interview in 1936, a reporter asked Mr Edison about the ten thousand attempts, wondering if such numbers was a sign to quit. Mr Edison replied with: "Either I win or I learn. I learned ten thousand ways on how not to do it."
These words reveal Mr Edison's feelings that failure is not the opposite of success, but an inherent part of the success process.
The fact is, You WILL fail a few times at the start of a new adventure, but will you win and will you learn? Sportsmen and women call these failed attemots and learning curves - "practice."
So, back to the original question: what is the true opposite of success?
If you consider that success means the ACHIEVEMENT of a goal or intention based on ACTION, then the natural opposite of success is to do nothing!
It is the fear of failure that turns great men and women into a forgettable nobody. It is fearthat paralyzes people into doing nothing at all.
It is the thought of failure that gets people to give up on their dreams, and to say no to great opportunities, when in reality failure could be your greatest ally in refining and polishing your achievements.
Don't be afraid to step out and live! Sieze the opportunities, live the moments knowing you have the chance to win or to learn!
Failure?
At first, it would seem so, but take a momemt to consider the common light bulb. Legend has it that Thomas Edison, the light bulb patent owner, had ten thousand failed attempts at the now-common-household necessity, before making a working prototype.
In an interview in 1936, a reporter asked Mr Edison about the ten thousand attempts, wondering if such numbers was a sign to quit. Mr Edison replied with: "Either I win or I learn. I learned ten thousand ways on how not to do it."
These words reveal Mr Edison's feelings that failure is not the opposite of success, but an inherent part of the success process.
The fact is, You WILL fail a few times at the start of a new adventure, but will you win and will you learn? Sportsmen and women call these failed attemots and learning curves - "practice."
So, back to the original question: what is the true opposite of success?
If you consider that success means the ACHIEVEMENT of a goal or intention based on ACTION, then the natural opposite of success is to do nothing!
It is the fear of failure that turns great men and women into a forgettable nobody. It is fearthat paralyzes people into doing nothing at all.
It is the thought of failure that gets people to give up on their dreams, and to say no to great opportunities, when in reality failure could be your greatest ally in refining and polishing your achievements.
Don't be afraid to step out and live! Sieze the opportunities, live the moments knowing you have the chance to win or to learn!
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