We can ALL be a success – in our career and in life. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Just have persistence and confidence 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.

Included in this presentation, are two very inspirational video clips – one about never giving up and the other about turning failure into success.

Strategy for Success: YOU Should Define YOURSELF to Others

Consider this example:

The late Jim Valvano was an extremely successful U.S. college basketball coach who won an NCAA national championship with the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Unfortunately, Valvano contracted cancer. BUT, he left us with a powerful lesson about perseverance.

In 1993, Valvano was given an “ESPY” award by the ESPN cable sports network for his courage and drive in fighting his bout with cancer. At the ESPY award show, Jim Valvano gave one of the most inspirational speeches EVER about persistence and resilience!!

In his ESPY speech, Jim Valvano uttered a line that applies to all of us no matter our stage in life: “Never Give Up… Don’t Ever Give Up.” (https://goo.gl/WvZ67n)

The V Foundation, which was formed after Valvano passed away, has raised more than $150+ million for cancer research, with ALL of the proceeds that are raised being given to worthy cancer research proposals. (http://www.jimmyv.org)

Jim Valvano’s speech certainly inspires me. That’s why my personal blog’s description ends with the phrase “Live Life Every Day.” (http://www.evansonmarketing.com)

On a personal note:

When I was a sophomore in college, I went to talk one of my professors about the essay answers that I gave on a midterm exam. I was NOT there to complain about my grade (of C+), only to see how I could do better on my essays for the final.

My conversation with the professor lasted less than 5 minutes. His response? “I don’t know why you’re here in my office. You’re from a blue-collar family, and you are a first-generation college student. What makes you think you can do any better?”

That was it.

Although this incident occurred decades ago, I still remember it rather vividly. I interpreted the professor’s comments as implying that I would never amount to much. Wow, that was a lot for a 19-year-old to handle.

So, I chose to use those comments to help me rather than defeat me. The observations which were made by that professor have served as a major impetus for me to prove him wrong throughout my career.

As the About section of my main personal blog [evansonmarketing.com] indicates, I have done a lot to prove that his inappropriate assessment of me is wrong.

Video on Failure and Subsequent Success

The next video from Motivating Success offers an inspirational message about “persevering no matter how many times you have failed. The video cites well known people who 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.

If they can turn things around, so can we!!