You Only Fail When You Give Up.

The only thing that can stop you from achieving your dreams and goals is quitting. The worst thing that failure can do to your goals is probably re-routing them. However, if you look at it, it’s not the worst thing, because failure probably taught you something or caused you to refine your goals, which led you to re-route. One of the most important lessons to put into practice in any area of your life is failing forward. Many people we admire today are those who did not give up behind the scenes but instead chose to keep failing forward. To live a life of continuous growth, we need to cultivate a culture of intentional determination and perseverance. Only then can we enjoy the fruit that comes with not giving up. Just because you received one, five, or a hundred NOs does not mean you have to lose your passion and zeal for life and fall into the trap of just existing until you die. The world still needs your light, your fire, your love, and the passion you radiate as you go after your dreams and goals. When it feels like a certain goal is taking too long to come to pass, remember that you only fail when you give up. All you need to do is evaluate, go back to the drawing board, and get back up, whatever that may look like for you.

These are some of the stories I have heard that I hope will inspire you not to give up.

From 120 application letters to a janitor, and finally a VP

Joel Osteen speaks of a guy who lived in the countryside and dreamed of working in a big city. He heard about a certain company on the radio, and he decided to send an application letter to look for a job. He sat down to handwrite the first application letter and sent it by mail to the company. Days, weeks went by, and he heard nothing back from the company. He thought to himself, maybe just maybe they did not receive it, and he decided to write another one, and another one. Still months went by with no response, but he kept writing until he had sent about 120 letters. After all those letters, he decided to go on a train to visit the company in person and find out if they had been receiving the letters. When he got into the hiring manager’s office, he asked if he had received his letters. The hiring manager responded ‘All 120 of them, I was waiting for you to show up. I knew you would. Are you ready to start now?’ This young man got a job as a janitor. Over the years, he worked his way up to becoming the Vice President of the organization. This would not have happened if he had given up on the first letter, or 50^Th.

I know many people would have given up, maybe on the 10^th letter, if they even managed to get there. Your personal growth journey requires perseverance. This reminds me of the story that Jesus used to illustrate perseverance in the book of Luke. A widow who was seeking justice from a judge, not a very kind one, either. She kept going to his gate until this judge granted her justice, not because he was kind or compassionate towards her, but because she persevered and did not give up.

Brandon Burlwoth’s life.

Brandon Burlsworth’s life was an epitome of perseverance, even when the odds were against him. Starting his college football career as a walk-on, overweight student, he beat the odds and was drafted in the NFL before he died at the age of 22. Though his life may seem short-lived, Brandon achieved his goal of playing professional football. It wasn’t so much about the sport, even though the fruits showed in the football results, but the tenacity, faith, and fruits cultivated that even some people who have lived 50, 80 years have failed to show because they gave up on almost anything and let life happen to them. What he lacked in physique, Brandon made up for in hard work and faith without compromising on his character.

You can watch Brandon Burlsworth’s life story on Netflix.

Literally, the light in your house came about from not giving up.

When it comes to not giving up even after failing so many times, Thomas Edison is well known for this. He greatly articulated the concept of failing forward when he famously said. “ I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He kept going back to the drawing board and learning from his failed attempts. Thomas tried 10,000 times. How many times are you willing to try until your goals come to life? This is a reminder for you not to give up on your goals and personal development journey.

Today is the first day of September, dare to take a look at the goals you set when the year started. Pick up those that you had given up on as the year went by, and keep at it.

Beloved, do not grow weary of doing good, for in due season you will reap only if you don’t give up. Galatians 6:9. 

tanyafungai