I have had many pinnacle moments in my life. I’ve had many low moments in my life. I’ve done well. I’ve done poorly. I’ve had millions in the bank. I’ve had debt up to my ears. I’ve been applauded. I’ve been denounced.
Every time I allowed myself to think I had arrived, I hadn’t. Every time I called myself a failure, I wasn’t.
Every moment – each high and each low – was merely a step on the path to this moment.
Period.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
True success can’t be defined by a moment. Neither can failure.
Success. Failure. It’s all just part of the journey. Where I find myself today doesn’t matter in the big picture.
I can’t linger in success, and I shouldn’t wallow in failure.
Every moment is simply a lesson. I can learn things from the moments of success that I can’t learn from the moments of failure. And vice versa. I enjoy the moment, or I endure the moment. But I know this – no moment is permanent. The moment moves on and so must I.
Feeling like a success today? Enjoy it. Learn the lesson. Move on.
Feeling like a failure today? Endure it. Learn the lesson. Move on.
– – – –
For my kids. Reposted from an article I wrote in 2006 on ActiveRain
Thanks for this…I needed it today!
I think I did too, Jay.
When Serena Williams recently won the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, one of the five elite Grand Slam events in professional tennis, she was asked by one of the announcers what this historic achievement meant to her. It was a victory that most professionals would give anything to have achieved. She responded (and I’m paraphrasing), “I’m sorry, I apologize, but I’m already thinking ahead to preparing for Wimbledon (the next Grand Slam tournament in England). I don’t spend much time basking, I’m always looking ahead my next challenge.”
One mark of a great champion.
Indeed, Bill.
Wow Jeff awesome Power Post, this one will be a timeless post! Endre
Thanks, Endre.
Hey Jeff… your re-posted blog also resonated with my daily life story, as you well know. Thank you for putting your thoughts to pen 15 years ago.
I do know. 🙂
Active Rain? Nice post!
#featured
“can learn things from the moments of success that I can’t learn from the moments of failure. And vice versa.”. Amen brother. I tend to think we all learn a helluva lot more from out failures and if you don’t fail, you probably aren’t pushing yourself. Thanks for sharing and nice to hear your voice again.
Thanks Jeff! I needed to hear this today!!