“Failure is only postponed success as long as courage coaches ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of victory.” – Herbert Kaufman

Do you feel discouraged when you fail at your first and second attempt?

I understand that feeling. Life simply presents us with challenges that may either make or break us, and lose our passion. Still, the choice whether to push further or throw in the towel is ours.

At a young age, I sold mangoes barefooted at the beach of a rural province in the Philippines. Not a pretty way to start my dreams, right? If not for the kindness of a priest, I couldn’t have studied in a school and received a degree. You can know more about my story in www.taleofjuliet.com and in my book The Tale of Juliet.

For a 5-foot petite lady from a less known Asian country, I had to overcome my limitations and harp on my abilities and talents, and what I can deliver.

My passion and persistence were tried and tested through all the difficulties I encountered in life. And if you ask me if ever I will choose to live a different life, I will decide not to. I am thankful for the trials – because it has and continues to serve like a refining fire to my character and values. Remember that:

• Trials test and strengthens our character.
• Trials give us the opportunity to learn.
• Trials push us out of our comfort zones.
• Trials make our life’s testimony more meaningful and significant.

Let you passion endure you through life’s trials.

Stay focused on your goal and purpose with a knowing that going through trials only makes you stronger and builds your character to win in life.

When the going gets tough, you just have to get going.

Has someone asked you, “What is your purpose?” It can be one of the toughest questions to answer. I know, I have been there. When I attended a Life Direction Seminar years ago I finally discovered how I would like to live my life with meaning and purpose. “To inspire and motivate others to use their God-given talent and reach their full potential.”

Did you know that Harvard Business School researchers found that 3% of people are successful, 30% are moderately successful and 67% just exist? 67! The majority just exist!

• The significant difference for the 3% who are successful is that they have written down, specific goals and purpose.
• The 30% who are moderately successful have a general idea of where they are going but don’t have any goals formalised.
• The rest are happy to watch the world go by. (Source: http://www.goalmaker.com/whyset.html)

Noted philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Each man has his own vocation. The talent is the call. There is one direction in which all space is open to him. Every man has this call of the power to do something unique, and no man has any other call.”

This is exactly what purpose is – a direction to which we set ourselves guided by our unique talent and capacity. Our purpose can be vaguely shown to us by others, but it is us who can clearly define what it is based on how much we know, understand, and appreciate ourselves.

It is important to know your purpose and set goals for your life. This way, you can live life more meaningfully, with clarity and direction. And when you have identified your purpose, the next step is to be passionate in pursuing and achieving your purpose.

Did you know that Academy award winning director Steven Spielberg adopted a personal lifelong conviction he learned from a 1954 Disney film where Davy Crockett said: “Make sure you are right and go on!” His whole career truly adhered to that advice. Though he got expelled from college, kicked out from shooting locations, and faced many rejections in the early part of his career, he never gave up and instead stick to his goals and pursued it.

Would you like to be part of the 3%, 30% or 67%?

Be part of the winning minority!

Live your life with a purpose, and run your race like a runner fired up with passion to win!

I have experienced failures in the past and I know how it feels when the desire to live passionately dies as disappointment creeps in. I heard of a teenager who was cut from his basketball team for not scoring enough points, a pianist whose teacher told him he was a hopeless composer, a man who lived for a year in his car trying to sell his chicken recipe and was constantly turned down, and two authors who were shunned by over a hundred publishers before somebody took a chance.

These men were all-time basketball superstar Michael Jordan, piano virtuoso Ludwig van Beethoven, KFC owner Colonel Sanders, and Chicken Soup for the Soul best-selling authors who also happen to be my mentors Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield, respectively.

This month, I am doing a series on the importance of passion. Passion brought me to greater heights in my life, and I know it will do the same for you. Life guru Anthony Robbins said it so well, “Passion is the genesis of genius.” Passion is the burning desire to endure, to make some momentary sacrifice, and to fail and rise again that stir one to succeed in life.

How do you live life passionately?

1. Know that passion is not a fleeting emotion but an enduring principle – When your feelings of excitement and enthusiasm fade away, stay committed to your life goal or purpose, whatever it may be. Your passion should be renewed daily.
2. Focus on your value and worth – Many times, we give up on our passions when we see someone do it better than us. Focus on who you are, your strengths, and abilities. Be inspired by others but never compare.
3. Make your setbacks an opportunity for a comeback – Failed on your first or second attempt? Turned down or heard a bad comment about you? Don’t let setbacks push you from inching towards your goal. Learn from it and then come back up again.
4. Remember your future begins today – Wherever you are, whatever your status, whatever your job may be, just live each day with passion – excel and perform better. Your present can be your springboard for your tomorrow.
5. Be grateful – We lose our passion when discontentment arise. Always be grateful for what you have and for your everyday wins. Counting each day as a blessing makes the journey towards your goal a whole lot better.

Why not start becoming a person with real passion today? You can!