Self motivation, articles and advice

You have to consider my experiences in growing up relative to the fact that I was sent away to boarding school with other parents far from home when only 5 years of age. Life was not easy as most of our parents were not well off on the farms. I had to walk over 10 miles through the bush to and back from school daily. I learned to be a loner and to be self sufficient. I could write an interesting story on growing up on what was then still a frontier. But then I was packed off to the big city and out of my element.

The next chapter in my life that bears relevance was my move to another much larger school where I was an even smaller minnow in a larger pool. As a rather timid and rustic little boy from the farm I was subjected to rough treatment by the bullies of the school. I took all manner of abuse for many years and my life was a misery. When the boys were not picking on me, the Latin master delighted in displaying my ignorance in class. I had been so subjected to ridicule that I had no self worth or confidence in myself. Until the day arrived that the worm turned. After four years of this treatment and at my wits end I was rabbit punched by the usual bully boy and I went mad. I can understand how a perfectly sane person is able to murder another in cold blood. I went quite mad. I can recall seeing red images as I followed this bully up the stairs into his dormitory and he must have recognized a raving maniac as he attempted to escape. I admit I was out of my mind. Four years of psychological torture, damaged self esteem and a broken spirit had turned me into a loose cannon.

I remember trapping this boy against the far wall of the building and belting him with the most lethal blow. He ended up laid out cold and I cracked a bone in my hand. He received no sympathy from the other boys and the teachers took no action against me, probably knowing of my maltreatment over the years. I was left well alone by everyone after that and the last two years of my life at that school were bliss! However, I left that school after my final year with hatred in my heart for what they had done to me. I blamed the school and everyone else. However, I learned the second valuable lesson in my life and that is that fortune favours the brave. In my case the worm that turned had finally became a serpent and struck back.

I regained some of my self respect and my self esteem at this stage. If you lack these basic ingredients you cannot succeed. You have to love and respect yourself for what you are. In my case a rather ordinary ugly little farm boy. You must have a code to live by and a faith in the principles that you will live your life by. In this case to stand up for yourself and fight back based on self respect. I was at the start of a life of discovery and the beginning of an adventure. I had suddenly realized that after having my life decided, directed and brutalized by those around me that if I desired I could decide my own destiny.

One day I discovered the simple truth that destiny can be created by hunting for the opportunities. Once I became confident in my own ability and judgement I began to realize that the world around me was ripe with promise. And then the fear returned! What happens if I take that risk and I fail? I was hesitant and could not decide. I was ineffective until I became aware of boldness. Until one is committed magic happens and fear recedes. One day I read the famous dictum of Wolfgang von Goethe, "Until One is Committed". You will find his famous philosophy on the following pages with a number of quotes from successful entrepreneurs.

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