One of the greatest scientists in the world, Thomas Alva Edison once said I have not failed I have just found 10,000 ways that wont work. The dictum is thoroughly revealed in his study of math and science. During his study of electric bulb, he conducted over 3,000 experiments to find the correct material which would not melt at high temperature. After many experiments, he eventually found the optimal material-carbon filament. Edison made thousands of changes to improve the material and eventually invented the light bulb. While I may not have had ten thousand challenges, I have demonstrated the same dedication and commitment to improving myself and this is same commitment and dedication that I feel defines who I am.
A particular moment that I can recall where this philosophy comes to mind was when I was a young boy and I was trying to help out my parents with running the house. Growing up, my family and I were not exactly the wealthiest people but neither were we impoverished. I could see just how my parents would sacrifice and save just so that they would be able to provide for us. I really respected and appreciated what my parents would do and as a child sees things I wanted to do what I could to help my parents.
I must admit that even before I started helping my parents out I already had big plans in my head. Like any child, I had no idea of the enormity or even the difficulty of the tasks that I had in mind to help out my parents. Yet, as any kid would do, I set out to do these things without considering my personal safety or even the effect that it would have, thinking only of how I would be able to help my parents. It started out quite safe as I would do chores and help with kitchen work. I could see, however, that there was more to be done and I also realized that if my family had more money we could afford to hire help and my parents would not be so tired. It was then when I started to do big things such as selling things and offering to do chores for our neighbors for a fee.
Little did I realize how difficult this was and it was not until I had been turned down for the fourth time that I realized they thought I was too young or too small to do any real help. It was discouraging because I had the best of intentions and really wanted to help out my family. At the same time, I knew that I had to keep trying if I wanted to have a contribution. I kept on going from house to house asking people if I could mow their lawns. Each and every time they would say that they did not need help or that I was too young to help out. Yet, as the day went on I saw that I was learning from the experience. I changed my offer from mowing lawns to something that a child could do like taking out the garbage or washing the dishes. Not only did this offer work, it also enamored me to these people and soon I was able to earn a tidy sum.
From that day forth, I realized that the only way to succeed in life is to learn from experience and not to let failure dishearten you. I understand now that if I had given up after that fourth door and not pushed on I would not have learned or even earned anything. This was a valuable lesson to learn at a young age and I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn it. There are those in life who live their lives without learning anything and these are the people who are afraid of failure that they do not even try.
This reminds me of a story that I heard as a young boy about a traveler who encountered a large stone blocking his path. Others, as my father would say, would try to find a way around the stone or just turn around and give up. I fancy myself as the type of person who would not only try to find a way around the stone but I might even just keep pushing at the stone to move it out of the way if that was the only way I could move forward in life. I am sure that there will be many other huge boulders blocking my path in the future but I am confident that I can move forward.
A particular moment that I can recall where this philosophy comes to mind was when I was a young boy and I was trying to help out my parents with running the house. Growing up, my family and I were not exactly the wealthiest people but neither were we impoverished. I could see just how my parents would sacrifice and save just so that they would be able to provide for us. I really respected and appreciated what my parents would do and as a child sees things I wanted to do what I could to help my parents.
I must admit that even before I started helping my parents out I already had big plans in my head. Like any child, I had no idea of the enormity or even the difficulty of the tasks that I had in mind to help out my parents. Yet, as any kid would do, I set out to do these things without considering my personal safety or even the effect that it would have, thinking only of how I would be able to help my parents. It started out quite safe as I would do chores and help with kitchen work. I could see, however, that there was more to be done and I also realized that if my family had more money we could afford to hire help and my parents would not be so tired. It was then when I started to do big things such as selling things and offering to do chores for our neighbors for a fee.
Little did I realize how difficult this was and it was not until I had been turned down for the fourth time that I realized they thought I was too young or too small to do any real help. It was discouraging because I had the best of intentions and really wanted to help out my family. At the same time, I knew that I had to keep trying if I wanted to have a contribution. I kept on going from house to house asking people if I could mow their lawns. Each and every time they would say that they did not need help or that I was too young to help out. Yet, as the day went on I saw that I was learning from the experience. I changed my offer from mowing lawns to something that a child could do like taking out the garbage or washing the dishes. Not only did this offer work, it also enamored me to these people and soon I was able to earn a tidy sum.
From that day forth, I realized that the only way to succeed in life is to learn from experience and not to let failure dishearten you. I understand now that if I had given up after that fourth door and not pushed on I would not have learned or even earned anything. This was a valuable lesson to learn at a young age and I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn it. There are those in life who live their lives without learning anything and these are the people who are afraid of failure that they do not even try.
This reminds me of a story that I heard as a young boy about a traveler who encountered a large stone blocking his path. Others, as my father would say, would try to find a way around the stone or just turn around and give up. I fancy myself as the type of person who would not only try to find a way around the stone but I might even just keep pushing at the stone to move it out of the way if that was the only way I could move forward in life. I am sure that there will be many other huge boulders blocking my path in the future but I am confident that I can move forward.
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