Keep on Being a Success
“One thing is forever good;” said Emmerson, and “That one thing is Success.”1 There is a great exhilaration which comes to one through honest, well-earned achievement. To plan well, work hard and persist to the end brings one of life’s sweetest rewards: the feeling ofAdd New Message accomplishment.
We all desire and hope to succeed – and everyone does, through sometimes we fail to recognize it. Too often success is thought of in terms of money, prestige and authority; yet success can come in all things and to anyone doing any task. As Longfellow said, “The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can well; and doing well whatever you do, without a thought of fame.”2
Success seldom comes easy. Whatever our goal, it is bound to be wrought with frustration and hardship. If a task were easy, success would have little meaning. Indeed, the greater the degree of success we enjoy, the greater the degree of difficulty needed to accomplish the work. And not only does it require much work, but much preparation as well. Again, quoting Emmerson, “…success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”3
Failure itself is not always bad, for therein we learn, progress, and gain appreciation for success. What is bad is failure which turns to defeat and discourages us from trying again; or success which turns to conceit and leaves us with the impression that we have no further need to succeed.
One of the dangers in achieving success comes in the failure to realize that it is fleeting – for the moment only – and gradually fades away, needing to be replaced with new successes. When we set a goal there is hope, excitement and challenge. When we reach that goal there is pride of accomplishment and the necessity to set new sights. Henry Ward Beecher said, “Success is full of promise till men get it and then it is a last-year’s nest from which the birds have flown.”4
We all need success in life – need it continually. That is the challenge, for us Irving Berlin said, “The toughest part about being a success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.”5
1Emerson, Destiny, 1.45
2Longfellow, Hyperion, Bk. i, ch. 8
3Emerson, Uncollected Lectures: Public and Private Education
4Henry Ward Beecher, Life Thoughts
5Irving Berlin, Theatre Arts, February 1985
November 12, 1972
Broadcast Number 2,251