[Flash] The Courage Not To Be Discouraged

Ben has since spent his entire life advocating for peace.

In the interview, Lesley wondered about Ben’s indefatigable pursuit of peace in the face of unrelenting genocide around the world.

Ben pushed back, offering examples of society’s evolving mindset toward compassion. “People get discouraged. They should remember from me: it takes courage not to be discouraged.”

Ben turned 101 this year and received a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Why does it take courage?  Because people are constantly questioning, judging, challenging, and doubting themselves and each other. Is anyone really making a difference? Does it even matter? Who cares? Why bother?

How do we muster the courage to persist?

1. Be energized, enthralled, or even enraged about anything at work or in life.
2. Find mentors to fan those flames.
3. Make progress every day.

At the risk of trivializing world peace, here are some lighter examples of people who have pursued, persisted, and persevered:

• Steven Spielberg was rejected from USC’s film school 3 times.
• Oprah Winfrey was fired as an evening news reporter for being unable to separate her emotions from her reporting.
• Steven King’s first book Carrie was rejected 30 times.
• Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
• Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball were told to seek non-film careers.
• Colonel Harlan David Sanders was rejected by 1,009 restaurants before one accepted his Kentucky-fried chicken.
• Retired Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz each grew up in NYC housing projects.
• Mary Elizabeth Mahoney was the first African American nurse to complete official nurse training. She graduated in 1879 from the same school where she had previously worked as a janitor and a cook.

“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.” ~ Steve Jobs.

© 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com