“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled and fell, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood: who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again…who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; and at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” -President Teddy Roosevelt
What do you make of this quote for you and our business?
Have a great day and a great start to the week.
sysr
I have to continually remind myself to look at failure in this light. This has helped me do things outside my comfort zone. Yes, I have failed, but have also succeeded. This feeling of success out weights a 100 fold the failures.
I’ve always loved this quote. It reminds me of 2 important things:
1) Don’t be too quick to criticize those who are trying, and sometimes failing. At least they are willing to commit to the effort.
2) Get in there, get dirty, get involved, go for the prize, be willing to mess up, to look silly, to be criticized by others.
Which is why, while we celebrate the successes, we also need to encourage and recognize the efforts.
Not all of our ideas will work, but it is still important to try new things. They will rather work or not, and we will grow with the experience either way.
I am reading his biography right now so this quote is awesome. It really says to me “Find yourself in the ring and not on the side line. Get involved and start doing something. Jake like always loved the comment
Very powerful! My mentor and one of the people I look up to most and who has taught me so much, continually reminds the people that are working with him, not for him, that no matter a persons title, have to continue to earn it everyday. They cannot be above anythng. That there is no job to dirty or small that you should be unwilling to do. Make sure if you are going to ask someone to do something, it is something you would do yourself. Dont critizize or put down the people who are in the trenches for you and make sure you are willing to go into the trenches yourself. The mistakes that are made are not failures if you handle them as a tool to learn and grow. As an individual you always have to take risks and have no fear. What is the worst thing that could happen? Someone says no, or you have to go back to the beginning and do again. As a company we all have to be willing to take chances and be willing to say “Well that didn’t work, lets try it again.” Dont be so quick to judge or dissmiss the ideas of your team mates. It may be just the right idea to go to the next level. Be willing ot pick up trash or take an up or help a service customer. It all has to get done, and if you think you are above doing any of those things then you have failed for yourself and your team. Always remember that susceccful people have a group of poeple paving the way for them by doing the “dirty” work. Give them the credit they deserve. Roll up your sleeves and and help pave the path. With that there will be no failures only small setbacks to overcome.