Poem by Walter D. Wintle
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are:
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
When I was a young man with great aspirations toward playing basketball in college I used to read this poem every night. I wasn’t the strongest or fastest man on my teams in junior high, high school, or my military teams, but I always had great belief in what I could accomplish if I worked harder than everyone else.
All the stories and motivational speakers are right. If you believe you can achieve. Anything worth having is worth working hard for. That doesn’t mean we won’t have tough days or many challenges. The road to success is marred by persons, places, and things that want us to fail. Belief and discipline will guide us through the rough patches of life.
Have a fantastic day!
Character First 