Leaders choose action rather than delay “Waiting for motivation is foolish. The only way to accomplish anything is to start working.” We have a choice in life. We can learn to give in or become unstoppable. This is what we learn from the unstoppables. Never allow fear to prevent you from trying. •Bill Gates—became the richest American because he continued to venture into new computer-related technologies...even when some of them failed resoundingly. Realize that only you control what you can become. •Sam Walton—ignored those who urged him to put profit before people and built the largest retail chain in the world in less than ten years. He did it so silently that Sears never heard him coming. Tolerate pain and you will hurt less. •Christopher Reeves—though paralyzed below the neck, refused to believe he was helpless and continued an active life as an outstanding actor and director. •Helen Keller—Born deaf, blind and speechless.  She found ways to communicate with and inspire everyone who learned of her work. •Gwen Frostic—Spastic from birth, barely able to walk or speak, she thrilled many thousands for decades with her inspired drawings and poetry focusing on nature’s beauty, bounty and mysteries until she passed away at age 92. Listen to those who love you. •Dewitt Wallace—after military service in World War I, accepted the challenge of his minister father’s life savings as a loan and the total commitment of his wife to start what would become the largest circulation magazine of all time—The Readers Digest. Accept that your only accomplishments are what you have overcome. •Sandra Day O’Connor—After raising her family and a low profile career in the judicial system, became the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She was acknowledged by many as the most influential member of that body. Acknowledge gifts as the opposite of achievements. •Mohandas K. Gandhi—personified passive resistance to oppression, temperance, self sacrifice and empathetic wisdom. Many believe he was surpassed in these attributes only by Jesus Christ. His lifelong work opened the gates to India’s freedom. Change before you must. •Howard Hughes-Inherited millions and acquired many more, but became so self centered, paranoid, insecure and deranged that he died sick, diseased, despised, miserable and alone. Believe tomorrow will be better. •Oprah Winfrey—Born in poverty and raised by her grandmother, she refused to look backward as she built the largest TV production company controlled by an individual. Her net worth grew to exceed $1 billion. Get up one more time. •Vince Lombardi—Converted football losers to winners with a simple creed. “Football games”, he said, “are won by players who do two things. First, they knock their opponent down and then they get up again. When we get up one more time, we win!” Understand that admiration and wealth are fleeting. •Andrew Carnegie—came to the U.S. as a penniless boy from Scotland. His wealth in today’s dollars is estimated at $42 billion. To express appreciation for his good fortune, he gave away millions to build scores of libraries, museums and cultural centers. But, to be certain his outlook would be remembered accurately, Carnegie wrote his own epitaph, It reads, “Here lies a man who enlisted in his service better men than himself.” I rest my case. In everyday life, we are all exposed to prejudice, tangled emotions, and even outright stupidity. The idea is not to ignore them or to find a cure for them, but to overcome them. Your most important asset in doing this is you—but only if you go for it! Here’s to you! Roger Fritz is the founder (1972) and president of Organization Development Consultants. He coaches entrepreneurs and executives and conducts leadership conferences based on his many best selling books, including “Sharpen Your Competitive Edge”, “Why Stop Now: Resisting the Temptation to Retreat” and, most recently, “Stand and Deliver...or Step Aside”. Visit www.rogerfritz.com or call 630-420-7673.

Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 (Archive on Thursday, July 02, 2009) Posted by jstoltz  Contributed by jstoltz

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