When temporary defeat strikes, what to do? Not give up, that’s for sure. Napoleon Hill didn’t give up. All temporary defeats needs is a healthy dose of new planning.
Taking The Count
This fact will be repeated many times, because it is so easy to “take the count” at the first sign of defeat.
James J. Hill met with temporary defeat when he first endeavored to raise the necessary capital to build a railroad from the East to the West, but he, too turned defeat into victory through new plans.
Henry Ford met with temporary defeat, not only at the beginning of his automobile career, but after he had gone far toward the top. He created new plans, and went marching on to financial victory.
Success, And Failure, Too
We see men who have accumulated great fortunes, but we often recognize only their triumph, overlooking the temporary defeats which they had to surmount before “arriving.”
No follower of this philosophy can reasonably expect to accumulate a fortune without experiencing “temporary defeat.” When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set off once more toward your coveted goal. If you give up before your goal has been reached, you are a “quitter.”
Can’t Win For Quitting
A quitter never wins-and-a winner never quits.
Write this adage on a piece of paper in letters an inch tall, then put it where you will see it every night before you go to sleep, and every morning before you go to work.
When you begin to select members for your “Master Mind” group, set out to choose people who do not take defeat seriously.
Some people foolishly believe that only money can make money. This is not true! Desire, transmuted into its monetary equivalent, through the principles laid down here, is the agent through which money is “made.” Money itself is nothing but inert matter. It cannot move, think, or talk, but it can “hear” when a man who desires it, calls it to come!
All Of The Same Cloth
Napoleon Hill understood that we need to recognize here is that we are elementally the same—we all see failure as well as success, and that includes the wealthy and successful. What sets the wealthy and successful apart is that they move past temporary defeat, and simply make the changes that deliver the desired results. With desire, you, too, will be able to do the self-same thing.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
Aussie Internet Marketer © 2004 – 2009
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
“a winner never quits”
I have read many profiles of some of the world’s most successful (not just richest) people and many of them continue to push the limits and evolve. While some do it to stay competitive in the world, many small to medium enterprise business owners do it for the passion – and I believe that it the reason for their success.
.-= Cemil´s last blog ..Thesis Theme 1.7 – Update =-.
Hi Sean, This idea gives a whole new perspective to success and defeat. I can put it to the test right away by using it in my diet plan. The Mindset Mastery message is, not to accept defeat – instead, make a new plan – really good advice and easy to adopt. If it’s good enough for Henry Ford, James Hill, Napoleon Hill, and Sean Rasmussen then that’s good enough for me.
Hi Jill,
You can make a new plan any time you feel like the old one isn’t working. You just have to keep tweaking your plans until you get the success you’re looking for.
Just don’t quit. Keep persisting and you’ll achieve your goals.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference =-.
Hi Sean
Just the boost and post I needed right now. Things get pretty tough and it’s so easy to quit. A good question to ask yourself in those moments, is “How will I feel if I quit?”
In the short-term, the pain might be relieved. But no winner can live with themselves in the long-term for quitting.
That’s why I love long distance running. Demons come up all the time when you’re pushing your body to the limit. It’s the quickest way to learn whether you’re a winner or a quitter.
.-= Lina Nguyen´s last blog ..How to make comments online and build your online persona =-.
Hi Lina,
You’re right! Nothing challenges the strength of the mind more than pushing your body to it’s physical limit. When you’re tired and have had enough, only then will you truly find out what your mind is made of. I love it!
Hi Lina,
long distance running is definitely a great way to train persistence and to make the experience how good it feels when you prevail. I will start my cycling again, now that it is below 30 degrees in the morning
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Motivational Music =-.
I am not a quitter. At my wedding (a very long time ago) my Step Dad got up and said some lovely words on my behalf. In the speech he pointed out that “Lisa never gives up, even in hard times she finds a way to keep going, so I know that this marriage will stand the test of times and be better for it”. (gosh he was good at speaking)….so I am going to be printing out the quote above “A quitter never wins – and a winner never quits” to keep me going. With a mastermind group, which we are about to set up, I will be on the looking out for winners!! The Burning Desire within always wins
I also like to hear how it does not take money to make money, thats priceless!!
.-= Lisa Wood´s last blog ..Searching For Gratitude Rocks =-.
Hi Sean,
I’m determined to find a way to win. I will make plans and keep making plans until I achieve my goals. I will not quit because I face some temporary defeat. I will simply make some adjustments to my plans and try again. I will win because I will persist until I achieve my goals.
I think winners find a way to win. I think they can take temporary defeat and turn it into a raging success. They can snatch victories from the jaws of defeat. And so can I!:)
“We see men who have accumulated great fortunes, but we often recognize only their triumph, overlooking the temporary defeats which they had to surmount before “arriving.” ”
That’s so true. I guess it’s partly because we don’t want to go the hard yards, so it’s just easier to say “they were lucky” or “if I had such a break I would make it as well” etc. If we would admit that these people had created that luck with lots of work we would admit that we could do it as well and just decided not to …
I have reached the point where I know that nothing is happening by pure luck or chance, and that I will create my own big break. At the time I have set. And that feels good.
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Motivational Music =-.
Hi Renee,
I completely agree with you. I think a lot of people make excuses about why they’re not successful and other people are. They never seem to see the hard work and sacrifice that came before the big success.
I take a lot of comfort in the knowledge that I can create my own success. I am making it happen day by day.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
When faced with defeat I try harder. I can’t give up, that would be boring so instead I plan to win next time and embrace the knowledge of the last defeat. We can’t all be winners but we can all win sometime.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..You Are the Reason I Know It Will Happen =-.
Hi Sean
I like the saying “a quitter never wins and a winner never quits”. So if I am to be a loser, then I need to quit, sometimes before I even start. Well there is no fun in that.
Being a winner is more fun. The way to do that is to not quit – simple.
Hi Elly,
You make an excellent point. The only way to ensure you win is to never quit. To never quit means to keep persisting no matter what stands in your way.
I agree; being a winner is way more fun.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.