Today I'd like to share a quote from John Wooden (1910-2010), an American basketball player and coach:
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
This reminds of another quote that is often bounced around in work and school settings: "To be insane is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result."
To be successful in life, you have to be receptive to change -- there's no way around it. I started college as an accounting major and excelled greatly at it. About halfway into the program, though, I realized accounting wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I switched to a major that not only afforded me the opportunity to be more creative, but harnessed my passion for the written word and made use of my writing and editing skills: marketing. I now have ample marketing communications/copywriting experience under my belt.
But making the switch wasn't easy. I had my sights set on accounting since high school, partly as a result of my dad's -- an accountant himself -- influence. Ever since I was a kid, I knew deep down that I wanted to be a writer, but I gave accounting a shot to appease him. I took two accounting courses in high school and built a strong foundation that served me well when I entered college. I even won a couple of accounting awards along the way.
Although starting from scratch seemingly negated everything I had done over the past four years or so to amass as much accounting knowledge as possible, I felt it was a risk worth taking -- and it paid off.
To me, one has failed only when he or she has given up. But a person who keeps on fighting despite tough challenges and long odds will eventually persevere. However, it requires that one remain flexible and willing to change.
A team can't win a championship unless it tweaks its strategy for defeating every opponent it faces over the season. A person can't lose weight unless he changes his eating habits. A couple contemplating divorce because of incessant fighting will not be able to save their marriage unless they change how they communicate with and treat each other.
Change is really the only constant in life. We can't progress unless we're willing to deviate from our so-called tried-and-true ways.
What does the above quote mean to you? Are you open to change or find yourself set in your ways?
You'll find other powerful quotes here: How to Understand People
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