We can ALL be a success. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just be persistent and confident in your abilities, work hard, and learn as much as you can about every facet of your life! This is about YOU being the master of your own self brand, and not having others define you  instead.

As the late Jim Valvano said in an inspirational 1993 speech about his battle with cancer, “Never Give Up… Don’t Ever Give Up.” [The V Foundation has raised more than $150 million for cancer research.] Valvano’s speech certainly inspires me. That’s why this blog’s description ends with “Live Life Every Day.”

On a personal note [Joel Evans]:

When I was 19 and a college sophomore, I went to talk to one of my professors about a midterm exam. I was NOT there to complain about my grade (of C+), only to find out how I could improve my essay answers for the final. My conversation with the professor lasted less than 5 minutes. His only response? “I don’t know why you’re here in my office. You’re from a blue-collar family and a first-generation college student. What makes you think you can do any better?” That was it.

Although this incident was decades ago, I still remember it. The comments by that insulting and condescending professor have served as a major impetus for me to prove him wrong. As my Hofstra Bio indicates, I have worked hard to prove his assessment of me to be wrong. 🙂

The video below from Motivating Success is encouragement for all of us. It is an “inspiring video on persevering no matter how many times you have failed in life. This video mentions well known people who had failed, but kept pressing on until they became successful.”

Among those featured in the video are Michael Jordan, Albert Einstein, Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, Lionel Messi (the soccer superstar), and Steve Jobs. All of them had at least one failure before going on to enormous success.