"Success Is Failure Turned Inside Out"

“What’s the use in trying to get ahead these days?”
“I’ve tried everything to get back into my chosen profession, but there is too much competition!”

In my profession, I’m used to dealing with discouraged people, but it seems that I am talking to more and more people these days ready to just throw up their hands and quit. That’s why I decided to reach back into the archives and reprint the July 7, 2003 Monday Morning. I used the poem at the end on my radio program on September 13, 2009 and by that afternoon request for the poem were being emailed to me. If you’d like a copy of it, email me and I’ll send it to you.

This is reportedly a true story and perhaps you’ve heard it before.

The young man came west during the great silver boom of the 1800’s. He brought with him his dreams of striking it rich, of having all the wonderful things that money could buy. He went into the mountains and began prospecting for his bonanza. He studied where other miners had hit silver and carefully analyzed the lay of the land. Finally, he decided on just the right spot to begin digging into the mighty mountain. He went to the land office and filed his claim and began working it.

One year past, then two. Finally five years past, all with very little to show for his efforts. Sure, he’d find what he thought was the vein of silver he was looking for, but it would soon play out. After more than 10 years of digging, he again hit what looked like a promising vein. With renewed vigor he dug into it, only to have it play out in just a few months. Discouraged, he slammed his pick into the wall and gave up. He went into town and sold his claim for enough money to get out of town.

The new owners went to the claim and began working it. After going less than 15 feet beyond where he had left his pick they struck one of the two richest silver veins in area. Had the original miner kept at it a little longer he would have realized his dreams and all of his preparation and hard work would have paid off beyond his wildest expectations.

For more than thirty-five years the following poem has hung in my office. It was given to me by one of my mentors. Over the years it has helped spur me on in the face of adversity and encouraged me when I wanted to just give up and walk away. Maybe in some small way it will help you, if not today then tomorrow when you are ready to just” slam your pick into the mountain and quit.”

When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you’re trudging seems all up-hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but can only sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!
Life is queer with its’ twists and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns.

We’ve all seen many a failure come about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with just another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The sliver tint in the cloud of doubt;
And you can never tell just how close you are
It may be near with it seems so far.

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit!
-- Author Unknown
Have a GREAT and PROFITABLE Week!
Robert Hidde
bob@confidentliving.com