If at first you don't succeed
We know the story about how Abraham Lincoln failed several times running for various offices until he was elected president, and became one of the best all-time American leaders.
Kansans are proud of the Glen Cunningham story, how a boy suffering from burns so badly he had trouble walking, ran and ran until he became an Olympic champion.
Henry Ford went bankrupt his first year in business. Two years later, his second business failed. But he persisted.
The first Apple computer, Dr. Seuss book, and many other examples failed at first but later became highly successful.
A fellow named Paul Galvin failed in the storage battery business, then tried again on $750 of borrowed capital. He named his second firm Motorola.
This newspaper had meager beginnings 135 years ago. Though it suffered from financial problems, floods, and such, it has been successful, thanks in part to having loyal subscribers and not giving up when the chips were down.
Good advice for the present generation, which seems intent on pursuing instant gratification, is to repeat the old axiom: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Throughout the course of American history that motto has served our nation well.
If George Washington had quit due to early adversity, we'd not be saluting Old Glory today.
— BILL MEYER
