The Tough Get Going

By Orrin Woodward

My favorite quote, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

As a fourth grader, I had a teacher that became my first mentor. Franz Luoma taught me that I was responsible for developing the talent inside of me.

He saw a young kid with too much energy and channeled that energy into productive uses. Mr. Luoma said in order to be a champion you must be willing to endure the pain of the process.

Great dreams require a birthing process. If you want the baby, you must be willing to endure the labor.

Laurie and I were blessed with four wonderful children. I watched Laurie endure the labor for the dream of a new baby.

During the process, Laurie displayed incredible toughness to enjoy the results of our new baby. Laurie is one incredibly tough lady and knows how to finish what she starts.

This principle is a non-negotiable law of success. Do you have the mental toughness to endure the laboring process for your dream? Many times when things get tough, I drift back to my fourth grade teacher and say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

I remind myself that I am tough and the dream is worth the labor. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this has been in my life. Many times we are defeated because we become discouraged or feel we can’t go on.

You have the toughness inside of you and it is your responsibility to bring it out!

At the moments in your life when you need the strength, remind yourself that you are tough enough and have a dream worth the labor.

I have experience many failures in my life and have overcome through perseverance and faith. You can too.

You have everything it takes already inside of you to be a champion. The mental and physical toughness are lying dormant waiting to be aroused.

Set your soul on fire through a resolve to finish the laboring process and accomplish your dream. Just as a ship will rot by staying in the harbor, your strength will wane if not put to use.

Take a step in the direction of your dreams and press on towards your destiny. A person of faith that displays the toughness to finish will meet with an uncommon success.

Don’t tell me you can’t achieve because of your past, your family, your lack of skills, lack of intelligience, etc. I will never believe this about you!

I sold myself short for years and had to learn to take baby steps toward my dreams. I encourage you today to take a baby step towards your dream and persevere no matter what.

What dream would you pursue if you knew you couldn’t fail? What would be the first step you need to take to pursue this dream? What better time than now to get started?

What are you waiting for? Life is too short to live with regrets!

You are tough and when the going gets tough the tough get going. It’s time to get going.

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Orrin Woodward is the co-founder of Team, a leadership development and training company, and the New York Times best-selling co-author of Launching a Leadership Revolution.

Named by the International Association of Business as a Top 10 Leadership Guru, he is dedicated to building leaders and entrepreneurs and promoting freedom and prosperity.

Orrin blogs regularly at Orrin Woodward. He lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida with his wife and four children.

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