Half Hearted vs. Honest Effort

I am in the middle of learning to do something which is significantly outside of my personal comfort zone. I am discovering that is far more difficult than I hoped it would be but is exactly as difficult as I was afraid it would be. Several questions come to mind:

How badly do I really want to acquire the skill set?How much effort in my willing to expend? How much money?How many times in my willing to fail before I succeed?Who do I know someone who can tell me what I’m doing wrong?When I prevail, was it worth all the time, trouble, effort and expense?Of course, in business these are all the questions which need to be answered before any project is undertaken. The same principles apply in one’s personal life. Some of the best advice I was ever given is to “pick my battles.” Some are just not worth fighting while others absolutely are.

One of the most powerful secrets in making correct decisions is the interjection of time. If I can sleep on it or possibly wait a day or even a week before I act on my decision, it often turns out better than if I make a snap decision. Second thoughts can be a powerful safety valve. After having achieved certain successes in my life I have observed a set of patterns which usually lead to that success. When I understand what the goal is, when I understand that the effort, time and expense will probably be greater than I initially think, if I am still willing to pursue the end result I press forward and don’t stop until I have succeeded.

I hope the following Thomas Edison quotes will inspire you to keep going just as they did me.

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” ― Thomas A. Edison

“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ― Thomas A. Edison

“Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty–five percent would rather die than think.” ― Thomas A. Edison

“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work” ― Thomas A. Edison

“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety–nine percent perspiration.” ― Thomas A. Edison

“If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” ― Thomas A. Edison

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick–to–itiveness; third, common sense.” ― Thomas A. Edison

Here is wishing you good success and God’s many blessings,

Ron Brown

Proverbs 8:12 KJV

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.