Fear Factor
When I was 9 years old, I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up and at the age of 11, with my life goal in mind, I decided to research law schools. I naturally wanted to get into the best law school in Canada. After researching reference books and asking teachers and other professionals, I learned that the best and most respected law school in Canada was McGill University in Montreal.
After high school and four years of college, I succeed at reaching my goal. I was among 50 students accepted into the National Programme - Common Law section at McGill University. At freshman orientation, we were told that we were chosen from over 1,500 applicants from around the world. I couldn't believe my luck and felt so privileged to be among the chosen few. And with this sense of gratitude, I was blinded from the fact that I hated law school. In retrospect, I knew that first semester. I grew depressed but chalked it up to homesickness. My depression eventually stifled my desire to learn.
I graduated from law school without my usual effort and passion for learning. I really do not know how I survived but I did. I did my articles and did all the things that lawyers did - went to court, attended pre-trial meetings, met with clients, produced complaints, briefs and memoranda of law - but found myself disillusioned with the whole profession. I wanted to become a lawyer to help people but I felt that I was helping the wrong people. Looking back, my dissatisfaction was firmly rooted in fear.
In past few months, my husband and I have been making preparations for a move back to Canada. When we return, I will return to the practice of law, albeit in a different field. With the thought of practicing law comes that familiar fear - fear of disappointing clients, fear of dissatisfaction, fear of financial ruin but most of all FEAR OF FAILURE. All of us fear the unknown and before we attempt any big task, we fear failure: humiliating failure. With the prospect of practicing an area of law in which I have very little experience, I fear that I may not have "what it takes" to make it as a lawyer. The fear of failure has once again come into my line of vision. But, the other day, I found this following inspirational quote. It helped put everything into perspective and it gives me a little confidence to walk out into the unknown, knowing that many before me have failed miserably but learned to get up, dust themselves off and try again.
After high school and four years of college, I succeed at reaching my goal. I was among 50 students accepted into the National Programme - Common Law section at McGill University. At freshman orientation, we were told that we were chosen from over 1,500 applicants from around the world. I couldn't believe my luck and felt so privileged to be among the chosen few. And with this sense of gratitude, I was blinded from the fact that I hated law school. In retrospect, I knew that first semester. I grew depressed but chalked it up to homesickness. My depression eventually stifled my desire to learn.
I graduated from law school without my usual effort and passion for learning. I really do not know how I survived but I did. I did my articles and did all the things that lawyers did - went to court, attended pre-trial meetings, met with clients, produced complaints, briefs and memoranda of law - but found myself disillusioned with the whole profession. I wanted to become a lawyer to help people but I felt that I was helping the wrong people. Looking back, my dissatisfaction was firmly rooted in fear.
In past few months, my husband and I have been making preparations for a move back to Canada. When we return, I will return to the practice of law, albeit in a different field. With the thought of practicing law comes that familiar fear - fear of disappointing clients, fear of dissatisfaction, fear of financial ruin but most of all FEAR OF FAILURE. All of us fear the unknown and before we attempt any big task, we fear failure: humiliating failure. With the prospect of practicing an area of law in which I have very little experience, I fear that I may not have "what it takes" to make it as a lawyer. The fear of failure has once again come into my line of vision. But, the other day, I found this following inspirational quote. It helped put everything into perspective and it gives me a little confidence to walk out into the unknown, knowing that many before me have failed miserably but learned to get up, dust themselves off and try again.
Go For It-and Keep Going…
· Thomas Edison tried 10,000 times before the light bulb worked.
· Henry Ford went bankrupt three times before succeeding.
· R.H. Macy failed several times before his department store took off.
· John Creasey got 753 rejection letters before he got through to a publisher for his first work. He then published 564 books.
· Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 Home Runs.
· Albert Einstein’s teacher told this to his father: “It doesn’t matter what he does, because he will never accomplish anything in life.”
· When Bob Dylan performed at a high school talent show, his classmates booed him off the stage.
· After Fred Astaire’s first screen test, a 1933 memo from the MGM testing director said, “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.
· When Vince Lombardi had dreams to become a football coach, a football expert told him- “You possess minimal football knowledge. You also lack motivation. You will never make it as an NFL head coach.”
· Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper for lacking creative ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
· Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His instructor called him hopeless as a composer.
· Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team at the beginning of his sophomore year.
· “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I have been trusted to take the game-winning shot at the end of the game- and missed 26 times! I’ve failed over and over and over in my life. That is why I succeed!” Michael Jordan
Winners fail all the time. They just don't stop at failure.They go for it, and then just keep going until they succeed.
· Thomas Edison tried 10,000 times before the light bulb worked.
· Henry Ford went bankrupt three times before succeeding.
· R.H. Macy failed several times before his department store took off.
· John Creasey got 753 rejection letters before he got through to a publisher for his first work. He then published 564 books.
· Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 Home Runs.
· Albert Einstein’s teacher told this to his father: “It doesn’t matter what he does, because he will never accomplish anything in life.”
· When Bob Dylan performed at a high school talent show, his classmates booed him off the stage.
· After Fred Astaire’s first screen test, a 1933 memo from the MGM testing director said, “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.
· When Vince Lombardi had dreams to become a football coach, a football expert told him- “You possess minimal football knowledge. You also lack motivation. You will never make it as an NFL head coach.”
· Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper for lacking creative ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
· Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His instructor called him hopeless as a composer.
· Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team at the beginning of his sophomore year.
· “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I have been trusted to take the game-winning shot at the end of the game- and missed 26 times! I’ve failed over and over and over in my life. That is why I succeed!” Michael Jordan
Winners fail all the time. They just don't stop at failure.They go for it, and then just keep going until they succeed.
posted by Margie at 8:00 AM
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