May 12Road to Greatness
A determination to excel is the sure road to greatness … It was that which has accomplished the mightiest and noblest triumphs in the intellectual and physical world. It was that which has made such rapid strides towards civilization, and broken the chains of ignorance and superstition, which have so long fettered the human intellect. It was determination which raised so many worthy individuals from the humble walks of society, and from poverty, and placed them in positions of trust and renown. It is no slight barrier that can effectually oppose the determination of the will—success must ultimately crown its efforts. “The world shall hear of me,” was the exclamation of one whose name has become as familiar as household words.
William Wells Brown—Three Years in Europe; or, Places I Have Seen and People I Have Met (1852)
Be careful today. While the “determination to excel is the sure road to greatness” sounds like a quote to save to your Pinterest inspiration board, you might want to step back and analyze the heartache that could just as easily come with it.
Is it possible that a determination to succeed could hypnotize you into thinking you know how to succeed? The modern definition of determination is “the process of establishing something exactly by calculation.” Does that sound like your entrepreneurial journey to date?
Sometimes, determination requires letting go, learning to focus only on the things you can control. When determination turns to ...
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