We can be heroes

We can be heroesWe can be heroesMake a difference in your own life this Fourth of July. Its the week of the 4th of July, and every year I like to share these words from a great American with youIt is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly who errs and comes short again and again who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.Thats Teddy Roosevelt speaking at the Sorbonne in 1910, but he could have just as easily been speaking to you. Readers, we all know those professional critics and perpetual naysayers who say Its no use it cant be done. Dont try. Give up. Why do you have to stand out? Just be smart and give up. They are an all-too-common, misfortunate fact of corporate life and they populate our hallways, snack rooms, and company cafeterias. They lurk there, with their drag-down message of gloom and doom in the hopes of ensnaring you in their misery. But its important for you to know the naysayers are wrong, and you dont have to buy into their message of settle-for-little and underachievement. Because youve been blessed with talent because youve had the fortunate happenstance to be born in this great country (or emigrate or visit) because you are one of the leading professionals in this great land of ours, you have a higher purpose this Fourth of July holiday. Im asking you this Fourth of July to reach deeper. To use the great talents youve been given the skills and abilities and experience youve developed over the years the guts and courage that are so mu ch a part of you, to be even greater. Im asking you to make a difference in your own life to find that next great job that will make you even better to stretch yourself further than you knew was possible to be that person youve always known you were capable of becoming. Im asking you this Fourth of July to be a hero. Your own hero. And with that, Id like to end this newsletter with a few lyrics from a talented Brit (hey, they took part in the 4th of July, too) You know, I think this motley-eyed chanteuse is on to something We can be heroes and Ill be rooting for you all.