There is an old, partially true statement that "quitters never win, and winners never quit." I say "partially true" because people who quit did get started, and that's the first step to success. To say "winners never quit" is not always true because many times, our individual goals are not good ones. But it is true that winners don't quit on life.

Legends tell about people who overcame insurmountable odds to achieve outstanding success. Most of us who were at least in our teens at the time vividly remember that in the 1948 presidential election, Harry Truman "did not have a chance." Tom Dewey was to be the next president, and on Election Day, a Chicago paper published a headline that Dewey had won. But Harry Truman didn't quit. He fought the odds and won the victory.

Sir Winston Churchill famously said in a speech: "Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never, never." Certainly, his words, spoken in England's darkest hour, had a dramatic impact on his nation and, ultimately, the Free World.

I love the story of the high-school coach who spoke to his team at halftime when they were well behind their opponent. He rhetorically asked the question, "Did Cal Ripken ever quit?" and his team responded, "No!" "Did Emmitt Smith ever quit?" and again his team responded, "NO!" "Did Elmer McFuddin ever quit?" This was followed by a stunned silence, and finally, one player asked, "Who is Elmer McFuddin?" The coach enthusiastically responded: "That's the whole point! Nobody ever heard of him because he quit!" Message: Don't quit. Hang in there, and I'll see you at the top!

A Great Lady

In our world today, most sorely needed are world-class leaders who have built their careers and their lives on character. One of my favorites is Margaret Thatcher, who is truly one of the most outstanding leaders of the past 100 years. She is the strong-willed child of a strong-minded Lincolnshire storekeeper and his wife, who taught her some significant lessons for life, including the following: "Work hard, fear God, and make yourself useful to society."

When Thatcher served as prime minister of Great Britain, she followed rules that any prudent homemaker should follow — namely that you shop carefully, you don't run up bills, and if you have to borrow, you must repay promptly and also put something aside for a rainy day. Down home, we would say that is just plain common sense.

Thatcher was a leader of absolute conviction, which always precedes commitment leading to action. When she made a decision and was convinced it was the right one, no power on earth could make her alter it. This highlights another of her great virtues: courage. It is her conviction that courage and a good cause bring their own rewards.

Today, when everyone is freedom-conscious and responsibility-negligent, it is her belief that we must place responsibility above freedom or that ultimately, we will lose our freedoms. She has said she admires America and the principles upon which the United States was founded. She pointed out that those with religious convictions first came to America because they wanted to practice their own religion their own way. "They came not for subsidies because there weren't any." Let's learn from this "Iron Lady," both individually and as a nation. This will help us all get to the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

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