Most people give up. They do it from childhood, often because their parents or someone in authority tell them to quit. They say, “That will never work.” or they belittle the project and try to force the brave child who is going against the grain to stop it. They believe they are helping.


But, there are some people who simply will not quit. They try, they fail, they begin again, and fail again. Yet they simply keep trying one way after another until one day, they succeed.



There are so many well-known examples of this; Thomas Edison is one of the most famous. He was often quoted as saying, “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

You could certainly put President Trump in that category. Most people thought he was crazy to run again after the amount of craziness that went on to try to discredit and discard him as a possible candidate. Have you forgotten how hard the people who opposed him worked to stop him cold? They impeached him, accused him of crimes, tried to bankrupt him, disparaged him, belittled him, and tried to shoot him. But he just would not quit.


Lesser-known people also beat the odds and complete their tasks, invent their product, or win their office. My great-grandfather went bankrupt two or three times before he built a very successful company. He was one of those people who persevered no matter what. He had a lot of children and a wife whom he loved. He was responsible for keeping his family fed and housed. He was a good Christian, upstanding, sober, and responsible family man. He knew the people who worked at his company depended on him for their livelihood. He must have worried; he must have spent nights tossing and turning, trying to figure it out. As time went on, he did figure it out; he had investors, and he had altercations with them, sometimes. But he just would not quit. And he built one of the most successful chemical companies in the world.

Most people give up “before the miracle.” They are afraid, and people tell them to use common sense and quit. Going against the herd, especially when money is lacking, is difficult. It is exhausting, discouraging, and ridiculed.

Later, when they win, people often say, “I knew he had it in him,” or “I always believed she would succeed.” However, that sounds like hindsight, not like solid truth.


So, keep on keeping on, all you dreamers, entrepreneurs, artists, and inventors. You are the ones we depend on for progress. You are the stars we cannot see until your light is lifted high by success. Keep fighting, and do not let discouragement slow you down.


You are winning, even if you do not see it yet. Don’t stop.

Copyright©. 2025 Bonnie B. Matheson