“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau is a master of words, a poet, and an essayist. He has influenced millions of people, mostly posthumously, through his writings.
His concise statement above points to the formula for fulfillment and success. Here’s my slight modification. If one has faith in her dreams and works to make them a reality, and does not quit, she will eventually see success in an unexpected hour.
The formula, distilled further is, hard work and faith over time leads to success.
Those at the pinnacle of their careers when asked attest to Thoreau’s wisdom. One of the most common questions in interviews of highly successful individuals is, What do you owe your success to? Here are some of the most typical answers.
“Where I excel is ridiculous, meticulous hard work. While the other guy is sleeping I'm working.” Will Smith
“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” Kobe Bryant
“I think my one skill is that I’ll outwork anybody ... I’ll work harder.” Matt Damon
But what does the second half of Thoreau’s statement mean to ‘Meet success unexpected in common hours?’
If we stay focused on our part, chasing our dream and never giving up on the pursuit of it, the results will eventually find us. Until then, we must stay focused on the only thing we have control over, that is our actions, and remind ourselves that,
The Journey is The Reward.
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