Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Quote to Consider

The line between failure and success is so fine. . . that we are often on the line and do not know it.
Elbert Hubbard
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Is there truth in this for you?
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Which direction from the line are you most often poised to step?

32 comments:

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

WOW, such words for consideration this early in the morning!!

Success for me is waiting, evaluating, researching and getting counsel before I leap off my bridge to where I think success is. If I leap before doing those things, I'm sure to fail.

Rebecca Nazar said...

Hmmm, that's an interesting thought. From personal experience I think I'm more of a crevasse person.

Linda Hoye said...

Good quote. I think that often we end up on the side of either "failure" or "success" based on fear of change or fear of the unknown. Sometimes, risk can be good and takes us to places of success we could never have imagined!

septembermom said...

I think I lean towards "success" each time I break out and push into a new challenge. Even if I fail on some level, I have succeeded by taking that shot.

Great quote Janna! Hope you enjoyed your birthday! Any cake left?

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I'm like the mom from The Increadibles, stretching my arms to success, while my legs dangle in failure sometimes.
~ Wendy

Janna Leadbetter said...

Donna - I know, right? My brain's been sluggish, too. Excellent advice, to look before leaping.

Becca - You are? I'd bet you've learned, though.

Linda - I saw this line hanging in a McDonald's of all places. But it definitely found interest in me. You're right, the risk can be great. If we can push ourselves through it.

Kelly - That's excellent! A very good point. But no, no cake. I still have bowls of Halloween candy, though! ;)

Wendy - Love it. And you know she'll succeed, too.

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I think I'm so afraid of failure that sometimes I step into it just so I can control the outcome--and it doesn't hurt as much. I am in a place in my life where I choose NOT to do that anymore.

Tess said...

Yes, Yes, Yes!

And, for me, I can't focus too much on that line. I just need to have a little faith and keep pushing forward.

good thoughts here today :D

JLC said...

Hmmm.. You know, I don't think in terms of 'failure' and 'success'. Things that happen are simply experiences. So I suppose that 'line' for me encompasses the entire Earth. There is no place to cross.

Deb Shucka said...

I think the line exists only as the possibilities for perception. If I believe that all events hold success then failure ceases to exist.

Patti said...

Definitely something to think about. I think I'm like the school yard girl who is jumping back and forth over a line.

Tamika: said...

What a quote!

The truth is, the line is so fine I can never tell. The moment I stop yielding to the path God has chosen for me I have a clear indication.

Jill Kemerer said...

Yes, there's a danger zone when we're close to success and don't know it. It's the most likely time to throw in the towel and call it quits, but if we hold on a bit longer, the success we want will come.

Great quote! (Happy belated birthday!)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Kristen, me too. I'm trying to be different, before it's too late to be different.

Tess - Absolutely.

Deep, JLC. Deep. ;) We watched Meet the Robinsons recently, and the theme was a keeper. I can't remember the exact phrase they used, but its message was "the failure brings you to success." I agree with that.

Smart, Deb! I like that.

Patti - That's a good analogy. And maybe it takes the back and forth to both know what we're capable of and find our course.

Tamika - I have to really think about it, the width of the line. But I'm like you, I like having the Driving Force.

Jill - Perseverance, right? How often do we hear that word. So true.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

I seem to have training wheels that wrap around the line and keep me perfectly balanced. I haven't failed yet and I haven't succeeded yet

LeSan said...

I am most often moving that line around. Our concept of success is rarely a truthful one. I set my goals but I focus on what that success really means to me because success is found along the way not at the end.

Nadine said...

I think I'm walking the line. Hmm... Hopefully something come my way that will push me over into success!

Ellie Kings said...

To be honest... mostly fighting with failure as many of us do. But I've had my successful moments that have made up for the failures. Reaching for more of it! Thanks for the reminder!

Jessica Nelson said...

Hmm, I'm thinking that not only am I on the line and don't know it, but I also have no clue which direction I'm facing. LOL! *crossing my fingers it's success*

Woman in a Window said...

In my living, the line between failure and success is perspective. And where a lot of people might see me as failing, I see myself as succeeding.

In writing the line is between the thinking and the doing. I am not doing enough.

xo
erin
(Happy Belated!)

Anonymous said...

Great quote. I tend to raise my umbrella and balance as straight as I can. I guess you can say I am scared of both sides and find it most comfortable in the middle.

Stephanie said...

I read somewhere that the only difference between success and failure is one more try. Isn't that perfect?
Glad to find your blog.

Lori said...

It's probably that point where luck, fortune, the energies, whatever, come to play a role. Yeah. Never thought about it before.

Kathy said...

Maybe a little of both.

Here is one success: I just finished reading Water for Elephants. A very good book! I loved it. It really drew me in and kept me reading.

Thank you for recommending it!

Janna Leadbetter said...

Melanie - I think, before long, you might be able to try without the training wheels!

LeSan, I think that's a really good point. Don't you think we all often shift the position, to it's less failure and as much success as possible?

Nadine - I hope it for you, too!

Ellie - I agree, and it's the failures that make the success all the sweeter.

Jessica - I'd attribute that to being the mom of three young kidlets! LOL

Erin - Oh gosh, that's me. Thinking, not doing. Must make that change!

Ang - Great to see you here again! ...How often do you think we get ourselves stuck in comfort?

Stephanie - Well thanks so much! I'm glad you've come by. And that IS perfect. I'm going to write those words one more try down and stick them to my laptop. Will remind me of this difference when I feel close to failure. Brilliant!

Lori - That could very well be the case. But at some point, we have to take the reins, I think.

Kathy - Yay! I'm so glad you liked it!

Anonymous said...

Good quote.

I don't think I'm anywhere near the line right now and that's the problem.
-FringeGirl

Carol J. Garvin said...

Fascinating concept! I'm not sure I agree there is a line at all so much as a cloud. Sometimes we're on the road and it's simply not clear yet which direction we're heading. The idea of a line is daunting -- it immobilizes me like standing on the edge of the dock and fearing to jump because I don't know if the water is numbingly cold or comfortably warm.

I move in the direction that seems to have the most promise. If success isn't forthcoming I can always turn around and try the other direction. So far, my journey has been pretty successful.

Debbie said...

It can really go either way. I think I mostly choose to look at it as the "success" side!

colbymarshall said...

hahaha- so true. Because in my agent search, I think when I was so close to feeling like I was failing was when it happened for me. They are kind of the same thing ;-)

Janna Leadbetter said...

FringeGirl - Plenty of forewarning, that's what we're giving you!

Welcome, Carol! It's something worth considering, I think, and I've enjoyed everyone's thoughts.

Hiya, Debbie! Indeed. That's what makes it scary and thrilling all at once.

That makes a lot of sense, Colby. Followed by relief, huh? :)

Natalie said...

I've been walking on that line for months! :)

Terri Tiffany said...

Oh I like this! What side am I on? We could be so close to succeeding and want to give up! I felt that way this week. Just felt tird and discouraged. But keeping on!