Nobody's Perfect
My wife, Dawn, sometimes clips or forwards things of interest for me to peruse at my leisure. Here’s one example taken from The Joy of Working by consultants Dennis Waitley and Reni Witt, reminding us that not even the most successful people succeed every time:
- The greatest quarterbacks complete only six out of ten passes.
- The best basketball players make only half their shots.
- Major league baseball players reach first base only about forty percent of the time—and that includes walks.
- Top oil companies, even with the consultation of expert geologists, find oil in only one in ten wells.
- A successful TV actor is turned down twenty-nine out of thirty times after auditioning for roles.
- Winners in the stock market make money on only two out of five investments.
So the next time you’re passed over for that big promotion or your great idea falls on deaf ears, remember that even Babe Ruth struck out far more often than he hit home runs. Keep swinging!
Doug
9 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (9)
Good advise. Thanks. I got "passed over for the big promotion" - twice! - but I'll keep swinging!
Here is one of my favorite quotes, stolen from Jon Stewart:
"You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back on my career and be proud of the work, and be proud that I tried everything. Yes, I want to look back and know that I was terrible at a variety of things."
Like Jon Stewart, no one can accuse you of lacking self awareness :)
(Just kidding. You opened the door and I couldn't resist.)
I always wondered what unemployed actors do all day. Apparently they audition!
This is good advise for us all to remember. I believe Babe Ruth struck out more than any player of his day (or all time) yet he is remembered for his home runs. Good lesson.
How right you are! There is a great quote about this very thing, something like "It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all." (If I have bastardized it too much, please feel free to provide the right wording).
Truer words were never spoken, I am living proof of that!!
(But I come pretty close!)
And so humble!!
:)