| I wish I could say that I thought up the title of this | | | | New York again. And again he was told the book |
| article, but I didn't. It's a well-known quote by | | | | would be of little interest to the general public. He |
| Winston Churchill, and there's no doubt that Churchill | | | | was dejected, but continued writing. Completing |
| was successful, and that he also encountered many | | | | another book that he titled " Heritage of the Desert," |
| failures before he was a success. He was born in a | | | | he sent it back to one of the publishers in New York. |
| well-to-do family, but it's doubtful that he considered | | | | Seeing who it was from, the publisher didn't even |
| it to be an advantage. His father was the well-known | | | | want to look at it, so he gave it to his wife to read. |
| British statesman, Lord Randolph Churchill, and | | | | To his surprise she told him she loved it, and |
| throughout his early years (and even later on) young | | | | encouraged him to publish it. Again, this was the |
| Churchill rarely saw him or his mother. Furthermore, | | | | beginning of a fabulous career, but not before |
| his father had little confidence in him, once referring | | | | numerous failures. |
| to him as a "dull slackard." At school, Churchill was a | | | | Orville and Wilbur Wright were also full of enthusiastic |
| poor to average student; he was rather scrawny, | | | | ideas. They were convinced that heavier-than-air |
| hyperactive and generally rebellious. And, in general, | | | | flight was possible, but few believed it. They had little |
| he spend a rather unhappy childhood. | | | | education, and knew little about the physics of flight, |
| His father wanted him to enter the military, but it | | | | but they were full of enthusiasm. They repaired |
| took him three attempts to pass the entrance | | | | bicycles for a living, but it was the dream of flight |
| exams. He soon had his calling, however: writing and | | | | that kept them going. They began experimenting |
| journalism (and, of course, later, politics). And | | | | with gliders, and eventually added engines to them. |
| although he had many failures, he ended up being one | | | | Determined to understand the mechanics of flight, |
| of the most successful men that ever lived, mostly | | | | they built a wind tunnel in their bicycle shop and |
| because he never lost his enthusiasm. | | | | began experimenting with various shapes of wings, |
| If you look at other successful men it's easy to see | | | | and on the weekends they studied birds in flight for |
| that their path to success was quite similar. Walt | | | | hours on end. |
| Disney, well-known for his animal caricatures (and | | | | For years they continued, but few took them |
| Disneyland and Disney World ), was so successful it's | | | | seriously. They were sure, however, that it was only |
| hard to believe that at one time he was a failure, but | | | | a matter of time, and their enthusiasm never |
| he was. As a young man living in Kansas city, he was | | | | wavered. Then on December 17th, 1903, they took |
| determined to become an artist. Taking several of his | | | | their "new contraption" out to Kill Devil Hill at Kitty |
| drawing, he went to the Kansas City Star and asked | | | | Hawk, N. C., and with in a few minutes they had |
| for a job, but was quickly told that he had no talent. | | | | made history. Their device was only in the air for 12 |
| Dejected he took a job drawing for a church, but it | | | | seconds, but it proved that heavier-than-air flight was |
| paid so little he could not afford a studio, so he set | | | | possible. |
| one up in his father's garage. | | | | In each of the above cases, the thing that saw them |
| He wasn't sure he could make a living drawing | | | | through to success was enthusiasm. Despite |
| caricatures of animals, but he loved it and kept at it, | | | | numerous failures, they never lost faith. Enthusiasm |
| and never lost his enthusiasm. When he had enough | | | | is, indeed, the key; it is frequently the difference |
| drawings he headed for Hollywood full of enthusiasm, | | | | between success and failure. And what is critical is |
| but again he was told that he had very little talent | | | | that this enthusiasm is sustained through failure after |
| and there was nothing of value in his drawings. He | | | | failure, and there's no doubt that failure will come. But |
| returned to Kansas City dejected, but determined. | | | | the people who really succeed are those that keep |
| One day a small mouse appeared in his studio; he fed | | | | the faith, and have enduring enthusiasm. |
| it and soon it became quite tame so he drew a | | | | Enthusiasm can do many things. It creates |
| picture (caricature) of it. Taking it and a few other | | | | confidence, it gives you motivation and it makes |
| drawings he returned to Hollywood and within a short | | | | things happen. It helps you overcome doubt, and |
| time his life completely changed. "Mickey Mouse" | | | | makes you come alive. It even creates feedback: it |
| became the rage of Hollywood, and as the saying | | | | inspires you and gives you more enthusiasm, which, in |
| goes, the rest is history. | | | | turn gives you even more enthusiasm. And with |
| In much the same way, Zane Grey, one of the most | | | | enough enthusiasm, nothing can stop you; it can, |
| famous western writers, met failure after failure, but | | | | indeed, help give you anything you want in life. It |
| never lost his enthusiasm. As a young man he | | | | creates persistence; enthusiastic people do not give |
| became excited about writing and was determined to | | | | up until they achieve their goal. And in most cases |
| write adventure stories for a living, but his father | | | | this is what makes the difference. |
| was sure he wouldn't be able to make a living doing | | | | Three ingredients are important for enthusiasm |
| it. He insisted that Zane become a dentist, and | | | | - Interest |
| although his heart wasn't in it, he obeyed his father. | | | | - Knowledge |
| In his spare time, however, he continued writing | | | | - Belief |
| western and adventure stories. | | | | You have to begin with an intense interest, and |
| Year after year he continued writing in the evenings | | | | follow this through with knowledge of what you are |
| and weekends as he toiled at dentistry. And his | | | | interested in. And finally, you have to have a firm |
| enthusiasm for his stories never waned. Finally he set | | | | belief in yourself and your abilities. |
| out for New York City with several of them, but no | | | | The best time to "stir up" your enthusiasm is first |
| one was interested. For five years he didn't sell a | | | | thing in the morning, when you wake up. Think of |
| single story, or book. Then he wrote "The Last of | | | | your goals and all the things you love to do, and your |
| the Plainsmen;" sure it was a winner he headed for | | | | enthusiasm for them. Foster it. Let it grow. |