Do you only make a move when success is guaranteed?
By JJN2008
@JJN2008 (18)
December 18, 2008 8:04am CST
I came across this quote by Madeleine Albright (Former U.S. Secretary of State) today and I like it: "I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success, but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life."
Are there things in life worth striving for even if you know success is NOT guaranteed? Or do you only strive for things when you know success is guaranteed? For example, if (God forbid) you or anyone close to you is diagnosed with a terminal disease or told the chances of surviving the particular condition is very slim, would strive to beat or manager the condition? In some places, people with particular conditions are abandoned to die. Please comment on the Madeleine Albright quote and/or questions.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
18 Dec 08
My answer is no. From my experience, accumulation of knowledge and experience is very important. Achievements and lessons are equally of value in your career development.
If you are lucky to be presented several options, pick up the best after weighing upon your judgement. If not, never give up any chance, even if its success is not likely guaranteed. It will prove meaningful as part of the process towards your goal, or as a leading way before you switch to the right orientation.
@JJN2008 (18)
•
18 Dec 08
Thank you for your response. Again, I can't help but noticing (as with the other response I got) that for you, some level of success is always guaranteed - whether the success is achieving the desired goal or learning from mistakes and 'failures'. In other words, what I am hearing you say is that the process of striving in itself is success.
@paradoxanas (151)
• Malaysia
18 Dec 08
No, I not only make a move when success is guaranteed. Based on my opinions, the best thing is progress, and commitment, so the important thing that we have to consider in making a step is PROGRESS/COMMITMENT. With this, we can make a move, and succeed! If we fail, we succeed in learning from our failure.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
20 Dec 08
I make a move when I think I have a winning move. I do not move rashly. I consider the outcome and I consider the costs. I know that planning is important and I make my plans as comprehensive as possible. I don't go to war with my eyes closed or without ammo. cheers!!
@Rexdoron (345)
• Malaysia
19 Dec 08
Life itself is worth to be striving for.
That rely on the fact that we don't know the future, but we can plan for the future by striving the best in the present and learning from mistakes and what in the past. And yes, the success is not guaranteed.
That is my view. Hope that answered Madeleine Albright question.
:)
@liisafiat (659)
• Latvia
28 Dec 08
You never know how things will turn out at the end? If it is a success that You wait for, or is it the happiness You are trying to give to others, or is it a surprise for the ones You love: success can always turn into failure, happiness can turn out to sadness and misery, and surprise may not seem to be such surprise at the end.
But the key to success is to move on. You don`t wait for congratulations for a good work or awards: You just enjoy moving on and living, and striving to be happy, and in doing something.
I don`t always look for a guaranteed success, but must admit that I am not brave enough to stand up from the failure No 99 and to wait for a success in No 100. Hmmm, maybe I have to learn this rule of Madeleine Albright and make it work in my life?
