Yes, you know that poem that is posted in what seems like the home of every black family you know. Perhaps you’ve seen it so much that it has lost its value, “Oh, ‘Don’t Quit’, nice frame. I wonder if there’s anyone who doesn’t have that poem?” and you continue on your merry way. In memoriam of the beloved poem “Don’t Quit” I am sharing with you someone who has breathed life into the concept.

In the posted video, Eric Thomas, a motivational speaker discusses the drive required to become successful with any endeavor you may take on. He uses great examples to help carry the point home. He begins with an anecdote of a guru teaching a success starved young man that he will become successful when he wants success as much as he wants to breathe. He goes on to point out that people may say they want success but there are other things that they desire more, such as food or sleep. Sometimes, if you want to be successful, you will have to forgo the basic necessities so you don’t miss your window of opportunity for success.

Many times we have a goal that we desire to achieve and we work steadily towards it. Too often, when there are obstacles that get in the way and slow us down or stop us, we quit altogether. Before long we have a litany of goals that we have not achieved. If a goal correlates with improving our quality of life, then it is safe to say that the longer that list of goals unachieved, the poorer our quality of life. Our children pick up on the attempts made and it is embedded in their subconscious. They know that mom started college courses but did not finish with a degree, even if it was because grandmother fell ill and mom had to drop out of school to care for her. They know that dad started a business but it wasn’t profitable so he had to find other work to make the mortgage payments and he didn’t have time properly manage his own business. In there heads there are lists of goals started but never finished for one reason or another. While no one ever says, “I’m going to set goals and never finish them” it is more likely to happen to these children because one thing that is NOT embedded in their subconscious minds is resiliency or determination. The children are in survival mode, just as their parents were. The second video posted is a clip of Eric Thomas speaking about Resiliency. I find these highly motivational and an important part of the values that we should instill within our children at a young age.