The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
Vince Lombardi
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
Humans are blessed with the gift of setting goals and coming up with an action plan to achieve them. These goals can range from something as simple as shedding a couple of kilos over the summer break or landing your dream job at a multi-million-dollar firm. It doesn’t matter how big or small these dreams are. Or how hard or smart you work to achieve them. That’s because it is not our strength or knowledge that keeps us going in the pursuit of our dreams, but rather how badly we want to accomplish them.
CAN DETERMINATION MAKE FOR A LACK OF SKILL OR KNOWLEDGE?
Absolutely. History is a testament to how people from humble backgrounds not only excelled in their respective fields, but even outshone their contemporaries. Instead of whining about or giving up because of their lack of resources, they used it as a motivation to fuel their resolve. On the other hand, we have all seen many people from affluent backgrounds struggle to get ahead of the competition despite the obvious skill advantage. In all honesty, a resolute individual can work hard and attain the skill needed to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, the converse doesn’t quite hold true, for perseverance has nothing to do with how knowledgeable or goal-oriented one is. It is an innate quality that comes from within.
CONCLUSION
A successful man didn’t make it to the top because he was way more skillful than his peers. He got there because he didn’t give up even in the face of every challenge life threw at him. If cramming a couple of books could ensure success, the world would have no unsuccessful people. However, it often comes down to the fight one has in them to grind it out and soldier on. This ability to face and overcome life’s trials and tribulations is what sets a successful person apart from someone who couldn’t fulfill their potential.
Vincent Thomas Lombardi, popularly known as Vince Lombardi, was an American professional football coach. Considered to be one of America’s all-time coaching greats, Lombardi was also renowned for his quotes on the strength of spirit. One such success quote goes as follows: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”