Born to be disadvantaged? Nonsense!
The most powerful and compelling success stories of our time, almost always begin with the fact that they were poor or disadvantaged and PURPOSEFULLY CHOSE not to accept it.
These are inspirational people, who live their lives openly declaring to the world that they will grasp everything that is available to them through hard work and determination.
There is no reason whatsoever that prevents you from gaining what your parents, school, Church, friends and mentors cannot provide. Just take a trip to your local library or take some time to use the technology of the World Wide Web.
Knowledge and education is truly the key to changing your life and position in this world. Equip yourself today with the mental tools that will ensure that opportunity comes your way and that you are able to recognize it and grasp it with fervor and determination.
J.K Rowling
Rowling was born in England. She attended school and found her love for writing fantasy stories. She would often write stories and tell them to her sister. Rowling moved from village to village many times and often traveled. In December of 1990, Rowling’s mother died, and she moved to Porto, Portugal in order to teach English as a foreign language. Before her mother’s death, Rowling had already begun writing her famous Harry Potter novel. In Portugal, Rowling married, but the couple separated in 1993. However, she did have a daughter and the two moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. During this time, Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression and often contemplated suicide. She was unemployed and living on welfare. She was able to write and complete her first novel by going to several different cafés. Today, J.K. Rowling is worth about $1.1 billion and has been able to sell over 400 million books.
“Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.” - Benjamin Franklin
Elihu Burritt
Elihu Burritt, known as the “Learned Blacksmith”, worked at the forge for ten to eleven hours each day. While at work he would solve difficult math problems in this head. In his diary, today’s youth can read the amazing entries Burritt made.
Such entries include: “Monday, June 18, headache, 40 pages Cuvier’s ‘Theory of the Earth’ 64 pages French, 11 hours’ forging. Tuesday, June 19, 60 lines Hebrew, 30 Danish, 10 lines Bohemian, 9 lines Polish, 15 names of stars, 10 hours’ forging.
Wednesday, June 20, 25lines Hebrew, 8 lines Syriac, 11 hours’ forging.” Burritt mastered 18 languages and 32 dialects. In later years, Edward Everett said of Burritt’s example to today’s youth, “Burritt’s example is enough to make any boy (or girl) who is blessed with good opportunities for education hang his head in shame if he chooses not to leverage his good fortune.”
Another terrific example of personal growth coaching is that of Liz Murray.
Born in the Bronx, New York, Murray’s life didn’t start off very well. She was born to HIV-infected, drug-addicted, poor parents that were not able to provide for her. At nine years old, Murray and her family lived in a filthy impoverished apartment.
At 16, Murray was left alone once her mother died of AIDS. Her father abandoned her, moving to a homeless shelter. While attending high school, she often found herself sleeping in subways, park benches, or at a friend’s home.
Without a great education, Murray was still able to graduate in only two years and finally admitted to Harvard. Not content with where she was, Liz continued to break new ground. A member of the Washington Speakers’ Bureau, Liz found she has “a knack for” sharing her story and insights with audiences across the country. Her story was adapted for film by Lifetime Television in the 2003 film “Homeless to Harvard: the Liz Murray Story.” Liz is also an avid writer whose memoirs, “Breaking Night,” were published in 2005. Liz returned to New York City to care for her ill father, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in psychology and sociology at Columbia University.
Liz is an inspirational speaker who speaks out about determination and how no matter how hard life is, you have to move on and continue to work your way through the battles. Many movies have been created about her life.
“There are times when a man should be content with what he has but never with what he is”. - William George Jordan
Early in the 1800’s, a poor coloured woman in a log cabin in the South had three boys, but could only afford one pair of trousers suitable for school between the three. She was committed to gain schooling for her boys so she sent them to school in turns, each boy attending class every third day.
The teacher of the school soon noticed the pattern, but knowing the plight of the mother she allowed the boys to attend in sequence.
The mother, who refused to raise “poor” boys, did her best and the results speaks volumes as one boy grew to become a professor, another physician and the third a clergyman.
What a personal growth coaching lesson for any anyone who pleads “no chance” as an excuse for a wasted life!
Men and women, young and old everywhere, hear this! With opportunities everywhere and an unwavering aim to grow and improve, no one need despair or claim poverty. There is bread for everyone who has the right appetite for success. It doesn’t matter where you are born or what cards you are dealt. If your spirit is fully energized and is dominated by a resolute purpose, no man or circumstance can hold you down.
