The will to win

It takes determination and it takes perseverance.

The question is, do you have it?

A very determined young man had been trying for months to be granted an interview with a very successful company. After trying so many times he finally managed to get the Personnel Director to take his call.

The young job seeker asked if he could get into their well-known training program. With dozens of qualified candidates already in his files, the Personnel Director replied, “I’m sorry but I can’t interview you now. Why don’t you call back in about five years.”?

The young man replied, “Morning or afternoon?”

Now that’s what I call…DETERMINATION!

Most people I know get rejected once, twice maybe even thrice and then they give up totally. But not Sonny Bono.

WHEN American Congressman Sonny Bono died, The New York Times recalled an address he gave to the Washington Press Club Foundation in 1995.

It was a speech Sonny Bono delivered that centered on how he had gotten into politics. He had just been divorced from the famous singer Cher and he decided to open a restaurant in Palm Springs, California. Now for those of you who are of the Internet generation, Sonny and Cher used to be a popular husband-wife music team. Sonny remarried.

Here, in part, is what he said in his speech: I wanted to get a license to put a sign on my restaurant. I couldn’t get back in show business so I thought I would cook pasta for the rest of my life. I was fortunate enough to get married again and marry, a beautiful woman, so I didn’t care. I’ve got a great-looking wife, way better looking than Cher (and there was laughter). She’s taller (another round of laughter). And she’s 33 (brought laughter again). Anyway, we bought a restaurant, moved down to Palm springs, and I was just going to retire and kick back. And I wanted to get a sign, and I went to the city and said I would like to get a sign. They said, “You would?” I said, “Yeah.” “You would?” I said, “Yeah.” “What do you want exactly?” I said, “I want to get a sign.”

“Do you realize what you are asking for?” I said, “I think so. I would like to get a sign that says Bono restaurant.” And he said: “You just don’t get a sign. This is city government.” I said, “I’m sorry.” He said, “Fill this out and bring it back tomorrow.” So I brought it back tomorrow. And he said, “come back in a week.” Then he said, “Come back in three more weeks.” Then he said, “Don’t come back for a while.” 

So I started not to like this guy. I’ve bought the restaurant, so I was making payments now, but I couldn’t open it because I couldn’t get a sign. So that’s when I became fascinated with politics ... I never saw anything so confusing in my life, and illogical. So finally I went there and said, “Listen, I worked out our problem.” And he said, “You can’t have worked out our problem.” I said, “I have,” and he said, “You can’t.” I said, “I have.” He said, “We have to work out your problem.” I said: “No. I worked it out. I’m going to run for mayor and fire you.” (and the audience broke out in laughter).

I ran for mayor and I fired him. But I’m not totally heartless. He’s my gardener now.

Now that’s what you call determination.

With it we win. Without it, we lose.

Some people succeed because they are destined to succeed, but most people succeed because they are determined to succeed.

Edmund Burke says: “The battle of life in most cases is fought uphill, and to win it without a struggle is almost like winning without honor. If there were no difficulties, there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved.

Difficulties may intimidate the weak, but they act only as a wholesome stimulus to men of resolution and valor. All experience of life, indeed, serves to prove that the impediments thrown in the way of human advancement may for the most part, be overcome by steady good conduct, honest zeal, activity, perseverance, and by a determination to overcome difficulties.”

Are you determined enough to win?

Could you taste victory in your mouth?

In whatever you do, whether in business, profession or even in family; do you feel the fire in your belly that won’t let you go?

Determination is the way to win. It all starts from here. 

(Learn more as Francis Kong will do a repeat of his highly successful “Culture of Personal Excellence on November 26, 2009 at the Garden Ballroom of EDSA Shangrila-Hotel. For further inquiries contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. 632-6872614 or 09178511115)