Have you ever had one of those moments where you just want to throw your hands up and say: “I quit?”
When I was a senior at Illinois, I was intent on taking the CPA exam so I had to take a course that covered “Consolidations.” To make a long story short, it was challenging and on the first exam of the semester, I got a robust 39 out of 100. Extremely discouraged I met with the Professor, Morley Lemon, to inform him that I would be dropping the course because I thought “there is no way that I can pass this course.”
Professor Lemon mentioned that I had done my classmates a favor because “someone needs to anchor the curve.” He then asked: “Is becoming a CPA important to you?” I assured him it was but I needed to pass the course to have the required credits to sit for the exam. After telling me not to quit, he committed to working with me if I would also commit to working as hard as I could to pass the course. We kept our commitments and I’ve never been more proud of the “C” I earned - and I also passed the CPA Exam.
I sense that for some of you reading these weekly Words of Encouragement, there have been times in your life when things weren’t looking too promising. Some have experienced the loss of a loved one, a health challenge or a personal/professional issue that appears to be insurmountable. Perhaps, we can draw strength from stories about people who have persevered and refused to quit.
Last week, a professional golfer, Michael Visacki, finally qualified for a for a PGA Tour event - after 13 years. He immediately called his father and in the midst of their tears, he told him: “I made it”.
This video went viral (viewed over 4,000,000 times) as he explained the incredible sacrifices his parents made so that he could pursue his career as a golfer. “They sacrificed and gave up everything for me. They knew I was able to do it and they were always there for me. My dad cried, my mom cried and I cried.”
Michael’s story mirrors the story of Sean Kazmar Jr., a major league infielder for the Atlanta Braves who last played in the majors in 2008.
Three weeks ago, the Atlanta Braves called Sean up to the majors and put him into a game against the Chicago Cubs. When he got his first big league at-bat in more than 12 years, at age 36, Sean earned the distinction of being the third player with the longest gap between playing in the major leagues. Even though he hit into a double play as a pinch-hitter, I loved Kazmar’s comments afterwards: “What a good feeling. Getting that opportunity early in the game was awesome.”
Kazmar acknowledged that the journey has been tough. In fact, in 2020, he was at home on unemployment as he wasn’t even on the Braves 60-man roster. “It's crazy,” he said. But when 2021 arrived, Kazmar was right back in uniform, with Braves manager Brian Snitker calling him their MVP for the third consecutive spring.
What kept Kazmar going? “I tell guys all the time, you never know in this game. It never really left my mind… I still felt like I had the ability to play at this level.”
Over the last couple of months, I’ve had some interesting conversations with individuals who are a bit discouraged at how this Covid stuff has impacted them and their families - in particular, their kids or not being able to see loved ones.
In those moments when things look challenging, I frequently remember Calvin Coolidge’s famous quote about perseverance, or will, at times, read a favorite poem, “Don’t Quit!”
In the face of tremendous adversity, Coolidge wrote:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence… Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
In the poem, “Don’t Quit” we are reminded:
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit
Heading in to the weekend, we can also remember words from Galatians,“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
And if we don’t give up, just like Michael Visacki, we will be able to say: “I made it!”
