Winners never quit
I just read this post at StrongLifts.com, linking to a video of Jamie Gallentine’s recovery after a massive spinal injury. Mehdi (the author) asks readers what they would do if they had suffered the same punch in the face.
I’m reminded of the book Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. The book’s recurring theme is simply that people are only successful when they refuse to accept failure. All of the most successful people have faced huge setbacks, but instead of accepting failure as their lot in life, they pushed on.
There are equally inspiring recovery stories in the NFL — one of my favorite topics. When you see a guy like Willis McGahee getting his knee destroyed, it’s easy to say, “well that’s it… he’s done,” but anyone who watched him run this season with the Ravens knows that he was far from finished. Some might say that any recovery is great, and that returning to NFL level is an astounding achievement. I disagree. I say that the achievement is just par for the course — typical of the kind of drive and commitment that made him a candidate for the NFL in the first place.
Vince Lombardi get’s the credit for saying, “winners never quit, and quitters never win.” But the idea has been known by successful people throughout history. Michael Jordan had more missed baskets than most players. Brett Favre holds a record for interceptions thrown. Thomas Edison had 1000 light bulbs that didn’t work.
Are you a winner? Or have you already given up?
