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When you think of money, what emotions come to mind…

Desire—Do you want more of it? Anxiety—Do you worry about having enough? Ambition—Do you strive to have more and then still more? Disdain—Do you hate that you must rely on money?  

Regardless of how we feel about it, there's no denying that money…making it, spending it, saving it, or losing it, is on most of our minds at least some of each day.

Beyond its purchasing power, money is a tool that can amplify who we already are.

Consider this: winning the lottery. It's a fantasy few ever realize, even though so many dream of winning the lottery and living happily ever after with all their needs, wishes, wants, and desires met for the rest of their lives. The truth is often starkly different.   Statistics show that an alarming number of lottery winners squander their fortunes in record time and are left with nothing but regret in a matter of years. 

Ok, folks, it’s story time.

Like him or hate him, you can’t deny that Thomas Edison is one of the most famous inventors of all time. Throughout his career, he held over 1,000 patents for his inventions, ranging from the phonograph and motion picture camera to the electric light bulb, arguably his most famous invention.

Edison was almost as well known as a businessman as he was as an inventor, and many credit his aggressive business tactics as much as his creative mind as the reason for his success. Whether you view him as a visionary genius who transformed the world or a shrewd businessman who wasn’t afraid to muscle out the competition, one thing is certain: he had tenacity.

And this is the story of Edison I’d like to focus on today.

"Stored In Every Human Being Are Great Reserves Of Energy Of Which The Average Individual Knows Nothing."​
- Robert Collier

In your journey through life, obstacles are inevitable. Challenges arise, setbacks occur, and sometimes, it may feel like giving up is the only option. But there’s an old saying, “If you find yourself going through hell, keep going.”

When the road ahead seems daunting, and the weight of adversity bears down upon you, that’s when you have to decide to push through. The only other option is to give in to misery and despair, and this is no option at all.

It's in the moments of struggle that the power of perseverance shines brightest. Because when we feel like we can’t go on even another step, this is when we are often closest to success.

Did you know that fear of failure is one of the main reasons people FAIL to start in the first place?

This is so sad to me. It means they’ve failed before giving themselves the chance to see if they could succeed.

Too many of us are stopped if we think we might fail. We see failure as a verdict on our abilities or, worse, a sign that we should abandon our dreams completely.

Here’s the problem. This perspective is fatally flawed. This is why I see failure not as a stopping point or a step backward but as feedback.

Or better yet, think of it as food for thought.

Have you heard the story of Hernan Cortes? Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire. As the legend goes, in 1519, Hernán Cortés set sail from Cuba to explore and conquer the rich lands of Mexico. When he and his crew arrived in Mexico, they faced significant challenges, including resistance from the indigenous peoples and dissent among Cortés' men, who feared the dangers they faced in this unknown land.

According to the legend, Cortés, in a bold move to inspire unwavering commitment from his men, ordered them to burn their ships. By destroying their means of retreat, Cortés effectively eliminated the option of turning back. With no possibility of returning to Cuba, the only path forward for Cortés and his crew was to press on into the unknown, conquer the land, or perish in the attempt.