Tony Williamson

"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move."

- Benjamin Franklin

I have spent a lifetime studying the habits of successful men and women. The traits they have in common could fill a book, and, perhaps, one day, if my life is spared, I'll write that book. But there is one overarching feature, which can be summed up in this expression: "I can make it happen."

All successful people have decided that if anything is to happen for them, they will have to make it happen. They do not wait on circumstances to change.

They do not blame other people for failure. They see themselves as the captains of their ship, the masters of their destiny.

PERSISTENCE

Consider Christopher Columbus, with his then crazy, ridiculous dream of discovering a new world, though by mere chance.

The 'experts' believed it was impossible, but Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand ignored the experts. Columbus said, "I can make it happen." Consider what he went through, the threat of mutiny, the long days and dark nights, endless seas, with some believing he would sail over the edge of a flat world. But he said, "I can make it happen", and the rest is history.

Encouragement

The great Thomas Edison discouraged his friend Henry Ford from pursuing his dream of creating a motor car. Edison was convinced that Ford was wasting his time with a worthless idea and invited Ford to come and work for him. But Ford said, "I can make it happen," and he pursued his dream. And, the rest is history.

The next time you board an airplane, remember Orville and Wilbur Wright. Even their father laughed at the idea of an airplane. "What a silly and insane way to spend money. Leave flying to the birds," they scoffed. "Sorry," the Wright brothers responded, "we have a dream, and we can make it happen."

One of the greatest tenors the world has ever heard was Enrico Caruso. But Caruso's music teacher told him he had "no voice at all and could not sing". Albert Einstein astonished the world with his theory of relativity, but his schoolteachers described him as "mentally slow, unsociable and adrift in his foolish dreams".

Twice, General McArthur was refused admission to West Point. But the third time he was accepted and became one of America's greatest generals. Rudyard Kipling, the great English poet, received a letter from the San Francisco Examiner saying, 'Sorry, Mr Kipling, but you don't know how to use the English language." By age 46, Beethoven was stone-deaf, yet he wrote some of his greatest symphonies without hearing a single note. Talk about odds!

MY EXPERIENCE

As a young man of 24, I was dissatisfied with my income. Struggling to support a new wife and family, I realised the eminent profession of teaching was a noble army of martyrs - and I was not ready for martyrdom. I was told about life insurance, but I was opposed by my family, my friends, even my wife. For in those days, a university graduate should teach or be a civil servant - not "peddle insurance". But I had a family to feed and a teacher's salary could not do it. I applied to British American and they would not even give me the time of day.

But I did not give up. I applied to Barbados Mutual - and was rejected. Undaunted, I interviewed with Manufacturers Life (which became Island Life), took their aptitude test and obviously failed, for I never heard back from them. I tried to get to Dominion Life and could not secure even an interview.

But I was determined and applied to Confederation Life (subsequently bought out by Life of Jamaica) and was accepted.

Don't give up on your dreams, don't quit - always believe, 'I can make it happen,' and success will be yours for the taking.

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