Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953, he scaled the highest mountain then known to man-29,000 feet straight up. He was knighted for his efforts. However, until we read his book, High Adventure, we don’t understand that Hillary had to grow into this success.
You see, in 1952 he attempted to climb Mount Everest, but failed. A few weeks later, a group in England asked him to address its members. Hillary walked on stage to a thunderous applause. The audience was recognizing an attempt at greatness, but Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure. He moved away from the microphone and walked to the edge of the platform.
He made a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain. He said in a loud voice, “Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat you the next time because you’ve grown all you are going to grow… but I’m still growing!”
There is one common denominator to anyone who has succeeded, done something great, put a dent in the universe or became a History Maker: They Don’t QUIT! We could make a list of names that would fill a library of people who became History Maker’s: Jesus, Lincoln, Churchill, Washington, Disney, Colonel Sanders, Beethoven, Ford, Einstein, Pasteur, Herschel Walker, Harrison Ford, John Grisham, Jackie Robinson & Babe Ruth.
Maybe you’re looking at these names and saying those people are famous; what about the average Joe with a 9 to 5 job and no education or money? I am glad you asked! EVERYONE starts out as an average Joe and the ONE thing we ALL have in common is our decision to persevere – DON’T QUIT.
It’s easy to quit, that’s what most of us do at some point in pursuing our dreams, goals and desires! Those that Make History decided to continue when it looked hopeless, after each failure, when everyone around them had given up on them, even when the light at the end of the tunnel became an oncoming train!
Becoming a History maker doesn’t mean we become famous and rich. It means we decided not to give up. We decided to continue to go on in the face of overwhelming odds.
History Makers are:
The single Mom, working two jobs, all the while raising her kids to be men & women of character.
The person working full time, raising a family and going to school at night to pursue his dream.
The student who says no to peer pressure and the crowd mentality and focuses on her education.
The businessman who fails and, instead of making excuses and quitting, he learns and tries again.
The challenges you faced have stopped growing, but as long as you DO NOT QUIT you will continue to grow and get better. Become a History Maker!
Find Your Passion and You Will Find Your Life!