What would you attempt to do even if you knew you would not succeed?
I used to procrastinate over things that didn’t look easy to achieve. On the first attempt, when the going got tough, I usually would take a back seat and rethink my next step a hundred times.
I have now learned that when we aim for something, everything we want to achieve — no matter how bumpy the roads may be —it can be reached only if we are persistent and focused on reaching that goal. We will never know what we can do if don’t even try to do it.
Read on as some personalities give us their thoughts on what they would still attempt, even when things don’t seem reachable.
Camille Aguilar, managing director, Ganso-Shabuway Philippines
First, learn from my mistake. Second, if it’s business-related, sell it before it folds!
Abdel Abdelkader, commercial model
I’m a person who always thinks positive, sometimes I come down and maybe I don’t feel strong as always but this never keeps me from my goal. I’m a person who, if I don’t succeed in the first attempt, just keeps on trying until I succeed. Success for me means never surrendering and moving on, whatever happens. Of course, everybody has limits but this is because we put them in our mind. But one who follows his dreams will eventually succeed. We only need a strong mind, discipline, constancy and determination. If you focus on your goal, you will reach your objectives.
Belen Aleth Ocampo-Mapa, chef/artist
Life’s challenges make it all the more interesting and indeed life is too short for me to have regrets so I have to make the most out of it. In this regard, I would still do whatever is needed even if I know from the start that I won’t succeed. If I don’t succeed then at least I tried and I learned something from this experience. But, if by some miracle, I succeed, then I accomplished something.
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Atty. Reggie Puno
That’s a tough one. Ordinarily, nothing, because why go through all the trouble and effort at attempting something that is a certain failure? And I always go for the win in whatever I do. Only one thing comes to mind, though I would never attempt it anyway, which is “running for public office.” Oftentimes, no matter how good, sincere and lofty the intentions are, the exercise will end in frustration, disappointment and disillusion.
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Marilou Diaz Abaya, award-winning director
I adhere to Ignatian spirituality. I make discernments and decisions based only on one criterion: I do whatever makes me love more my God and my fellowmen.
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Sigalit Djemal, businesswoman
If I knew that I would not succeed in something, I would simply leave it behind and take on a new task that I knew I had a possibility of succeeding in.
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Maureen Disini, fashion designer
If I know I will not succeed, I will decide on the best result I can obtain or what I can take out of the situation that would be useful for the future.
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PJ Pascual, fashion stylist
I have a strong foundation. Giving up is not a part of my vocabulary. My mother told me, “Dreaming is free.” You can’t keep on dreaming without setting your goals in life. I am an obedient son and I always follow my mother and my instincts. As a fashion stylist/consultant, I deal with different tasks and challenges. When Tinsley Mortimer asked me to do her reality show, I just said yes. I worked as an editor for a magazine, but I was not familiar with the TV world. We were taping the show every day for a month. Meaning, she needed clothes for every scene. It was very challenging, but rewarding in the end. I am glad I took the risk of accepting the job. It opened so many doors for my career. In the end, I owe everything to my mother Millette, to my sisters April and Nina, and to my niece Alexa.
