Life Lines

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."--Winston Churchill

Churchill knew of what he spoke. From birth, he contended with factors that could lead to failure.

He was a stocky boy with red hair who stuttered and had a lisp. He did poorly in school. He failed the college entrance twice before finally passing. Soon, however, he became the class leader in two important subjects, tactics and fortifications. He graduated 8th in a class of 150.

At 66 he became prime minister. His tireless efforts to defeat Nazism gained admiration all over the world. When the war ended, the electorate tossed him out. Six years later, at 77, he came back.

When ill health forced him to resign, at 81, he wrote "The History of the English-Speaking People," and painted (well), and received the Nobel Prize for his tomes; the U.S. Congress conferred honorary American citizenship on him.

Note the pattern of enthusiasm.

Failure and becoming a flop seemed prewoven into Winston Churchill's life. But he took control of the loom.

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."--Bill Cosby nnn