"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." ~ Chinese Proverb
I once worked for a guy who was often critical and dictatorial, but always came through in times of crisis. Am I making excuses for him? Probably. I always said, if I could work for him, I could work for anyone.
Challenges make you stronger.
"Skillful pilots," said ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, "gain their reputation from storms and tempests." •••••
RAISE THEIR LEVEL OF PLAY...
"The difference of great players is at a certain point in a match they raise their level of play and maintain it. Lesser players play great for a set, but then less." ~ Pete Sampras
When critics were urging him to hang up his tennis racket after a two-year slump, L.A.'s Pete Sampras hung tough and beat Andre Agassi in last year's U.S. Open.
"This one might take the cake," Sampras said after the win. "This might be my biggest achievement so far, to come through a very, very tough time and to win the Open."
The tough, power-serving Sampras, BTW, has a record number of Grand Slam titles: 14.
Are you facing a challenge? Hang in there. As Britain's legend, Sir Winston Churchill once said, "Kites rise highest against the wind—not with it." •••••
FREER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE...
"Every time you meet a situation, though you think at the moment it is an impossibility and you go through the tortures of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it you find that forever after you are freer than you were before." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
When faced with life's setbacks, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt met each one head on. Whether personal, social, or political, she used her inner strength to ride out each challenge to greatness.
She said: "Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose a challenge rather than competence."
Meet those challenges with a smile!
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