In 1885, a
twenty-three year old man saw a gas-powered engine and fell in love. He worked a night shift as an engineer and
during the day, he played around with what this engine might be able to do. By 1986, he built a carriage and showed it to
some folks. He was able to attract some
investors, but then things went south quickly, because there were demands for
this and demands for that and eventually, the company dissolved.
But he tried
again.
One financial
backer stuck with this young man, but hired someone to oversee him. You know, someone to look over his
shoulder. This time, the young man
called it quits and went off on his own.
Everyone had
written him off, but the young man stayed with it. He caught the eye of another gentleman with a
similar interest and agreed to back him, and not meddle.
In 1904, this
young man who never gave up his dream, who failed not once, but twice – at
least – developed the Model A. This
young man’s name is Henry Ford.
A fairly famous basketball
player didn’t make varsity in his sophomore year because he was told he was too
short. He grew four inches between
sophomore and junior year, and ended up making the varsity. As a senior, was a McDonald’s All-American,
was a four year starter at UNC, and eventually won an NBA Championship. His name is Michael Jordan.
These two men
are very different from each other, but they share one commonality: at one time
in their lives, they were considered to be A Failure.
So I ask you,
what is A Failure?
It’s true that
both of these men didn’t hit their mark or achieve their goal the first time
out. Perhaps, they didn’t hit their goal
the second time out. But eventually,
they sure did.
There was a man
named Jim. Didn’t do very well in high
school. Not very athletic. Not a member of “the crowd.” Grades, sub-par. Actually went to a community college for a
semester or so, but didn’t do well. Went
for technical training, but didn’t like the work. Enlists in the Air Force, serves a hitch in
Vietnam. Comes back home and graduates
with honors with a double major in Art and Architecture.
He starts a
company and does okay, but nothing super.
He ends up teaching at a technical college and was one of their most respected
and most requested teachers. He retires
and with his wife, opened an RV Park. Is
doing phenomenally well. So well, in
fact, that the park is sold out.
Very proud of my
brother, Jim. Kind of a hero to me. Certainly someone I look up to. Proud to have had him as a godfather to both
my son, Wil, and my daughter, Emily.
But, was he A
Failure?
If we use the
same measuring stick as we did with Henry Ford or Michael Jordan, then I guess
he would be. But maybe we need to change
the measuring stick. Maybe we should
throw out the measuring stick.
Having been in
education for 39 years, and having been a counselor for 11 or so years, I’ve
come to the conclusion a long time ago that all kids get it . . .
eventually. It might not be on our time
or in our time frame. It might not our
way of doing things. But I believe that
all kids eventually get it. All kids.
Maybe we shouldn’t
judge kids with the same measuring stick.
Maybe we shouldn’t judge kids at all.
Maybe we don’t say that this one failed or that one failed. Instead, perhaps we should say that he or she
didn’t get it . . . yet! Something to
think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
Book Three of
the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives, is in the hands of the publisher, and I was
informed that it will be a November release date. Could be sooner, but I’d plan on
November. I’m really proud of this
one. Ends the story line, but not
necessarily the characters. There will
be other books, but not a continuation of this particular theme. So, look for Splintered Lives, Book Three of
the Lives Trilogy in November.
Here is the
series with current kindle pricing, and all are free on Kindle Unlimited.
Book #1: Stolen
Lives $3.99
Book #2:
Shattered Lives $5.99
Prequel to the
Lives Trilogy: Taking Lives $.99
Book #3:
Splintered Lives - November!
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Thank you for your comment. I welcome your thought. Joe