Never Give Up

Becoming the top in any industry, game or business requires a lot of work, there will be stumbling times and times when it feels like the whole thing is a fail.

But here in the UK we had someone who found English the most difficult subject at school, he was held back three years because of it. Later in life he went on to win us a war. That was of course Winston Churchill. But it was his speech at Oxford University that inspired a whole generation. It was the shortest speech ever given to the institute. The story goes like this:

He arrived for the event with his usual props – a cigar, a cane and top hat. As he approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause.

With great dignity, Churchill settled the crowd as we stood confidently before his admires.

He then removed his cigar from his teeth and carefully placed his top hat on the lectern. Looking directly at the eager audience, with authority ringing in his voice, he cried, ‘Never give up!’ Several hushed seconds passed. He rose to his toes and shouted again, ‘Never give up!’

His words thundered across the audience. A profound silence enveloped the crowd as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane, and descended the platform. His speech was finished.

This was probably the shortest speech ever given, not just to Oxford but to any institution. The power of those words is incredible. Never give up.

They are powerful because they are words that are self-explanatory, they are incredible because they have a unique meaning for each person who hears or reads them.

For some its just about being able to get up in the morning to face another day. For others its about the journey to achieve dreams. But wherever you are in life ‘Never give up’ means something.

Never give up is about walking the walk, not just talking about it. Life is about dedicating yourself to whatever it is that you set out to achieve. The ideas you have about what you want to achieve have probably been sat in your mind for as long as you have been around. Its about putting your imagination into practise. Its about sharing a gift with the world.

Never give up is about resilience and adapting to the challenges around you. Setbacks, failure and disappointment are all good for you, they are the best lessons in life, because they teach you to think, understand and adapt. To give up is to miss out on important lessons and experiences in life that have huge value to you as an individual.

Never give up means that you prioritise your values. Being consistent and persistent in your approach you are putting your values above what is easy and convenient for others, because the ideas you have and the goals you want to achieve should reflect what is important to you and the values you hold.

Never give up means that you believe in yourself and all that you do. To give up on your goals and your dreams is go give up on yourself. Sometimes the road we walk to success is one we don’t share with others, because we are all unique, with our talents and gifts so nobody will invest as must in you as you do. Millions of people will have the same dream as you, but they will all manifest it and achieve it in their own unique way.

Keeping going, even in the most difficult times. It is better then being left behind asking the ‘what if’ questions and dealing with regret because you will never know what the full potential of what you could have achieved in life really was.

Never give up are three simple words but can be the best advice at just the right moment for anyone who has ever had a dream.