Triple Stream

Adversity Cannot Stop Excellence

Excellence is a way of life. It is an inner urge nothing can restrain. It is propelled by self-confidence. Adversity cannot stop the pursuit of excellence. We cannot choose our circumstances but we can choose our attitude to circumstances. Our disposition can overcome whatever position we are in. The glittering prizes of the world are not won by craven-spirited people who are reluctant to leave their comfort zones. Doubt and diffidence short circuit the mind. As Vivekananda said, we can master our destiny and shape our own future. As Napolean Hill, the author of The Law of Success said: Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve. It is only the dead fish that float along the current! When did the quiet sea make an adroit sailor? When did a small hillock produce a Tenzing Norkay and Edmund Hillary?

Fanny Blankers Koen was Dutch woman who won seven golds in the Olympics and set world records in running, long jump and high jump in the London Olympics of 1948. When she entered the game, she was 30 years old mother of two children and in the early months of her 3rd pregnancy. Experts had written her off as too old to make the grade. Although she hit the barrier in the 80th meter, she continued and won the gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the Relay.

Wilma Rudolf was one of 19 poor children of a black family from America. She contracted double pneumonia and Scarlet fever at the age of 4 and temporarily lost the use of her left leg. She could not walk till the age of 7. She won the bronze medal in 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the 400 meters Relay and the 200 meters sprints and anchored the American team to victory in the 4x100 Relay.

Bob Beamon was poor. He was a member of the street gang indulging in fights. His grand mother encouraged him to channel his energies into sport. He broke records as a long jumper with a wonderful jump of 8.90 meters. His record was unbeaten for two decades.

Shelby Mann, was a polio stricken woman. She won the 1956 Olympics at Melbourne. With great will power she cured herself of polio by swimming.

Sidney Poitier grew up in poverty in Bahamas. He did dishwashing and bus cleaning in America at 15, sleeping in pay toilets. He experienced racial discrimination too. He joined the cinema and became a famous actor and won his first Oscar for his extraordinary performance. He championed the cause of racial equality. He was awarded anhonorary Oscar for dignity and intelligence on and off the screen.

Tobey Maquire who is the legendary Spiderman, belongs to a very poor family. He was so poor that he had to live on food obtained with free welfare stamps. As a boy he lived on charity. He said “I had lived in 50 different homes”. He had to leave the school because of his financial position. His parents split. His mother gave him 100 dollars to join a drama school. Now his comic role as Spiderman shattered box office records by its 114 million dollars in the first week-end. He received 30 million dollars for a 3 movie contract.

Alorter, 19 year old American boy broke the records in 1956 Olympics by his very first discus throw. When he participated in the 1960 Rome Olympics, he had sustained dislocation of his cervical vertibra. In the qualifying round he cast off his neck brace inspite of excruciating pain and produced a record Olympic throw – 64-78. He won gold medals continuously for 4 years.

Abebi Bekila was an African athlete. He was poor and participated in the Rome Olympics bare-footed and won the marathon race in record time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. In 1964 Tokyo Olympics he won the race with a margin of more than 4 minutes. None of the spectators knew that he underwent surgery for Appendix just a few weeks earlier. He lay on his and relaxed a little before he started. It was the spirit that drove his body.

Rivaldo was a legendary footballer from Brazil. In his autobiography he revealed his days of poverty when he lived in the town of Recife, after the death of his bread-winning father. As a boy of 16 he was earning money by selling sweets in the streets. He worked hard to acquire proficiency in the game. Later his annual income was over 5 million dollars.

Even the world’s highest goal – scoring footballer Ronaldo grew-up in Brazil’s Bento Reveirs neighbourhood on poor northside where poverty-stricken people and slum dwellers live. By his hard work and rigorous training he became one of the greatest players with an annual income of 19.7 million dollars. He gave 30,000 dollars to assist the cause of education and health in slum area.

Walt Disney, the world-famous cartoonist and the architect of the Disney Land faced many rejections from newspaper editors in his early days. They said that he did not possess the talent to make him a cartoonist. He got a job under a clergyman. Living in a mice-infected shed, he was inspired when he watched a small mouse. That was the start of his Mickey Mouse which brought him fame and fortune. It was followed by Donald Duck.

Estee Lauder, the American millionaire in cosmetic industry started business with kitchen things and face creams. Eventually with expansion her business reached a high record of 4.5 billion.

Ramond Ewry, American athlete who won ten golds in Olympics – 3 jumps high, long and triple – was a victim of Polio as a boy. Doctors declared that he would never be able to walk. He was not frustrated. His will power made him do certain exercises. He developed strength in his legs. He participated in the Olympics of Paris (1900), St. Louis (1904), Athens (1906) and London (1908).

Ibin Collins, commander of the space-craft DISCOVERY, educated herself by sweeping the class rooms and selling pizzas and burgers in restaurants. Her father had to support the family with the bread pieces distributed by the Welfare Department. She paid the training fees with her savings to learn flying as a pilot. By her will power she became the commander.

Razab Mohammad belonged to a village 50 miles from Cairo. In an accident he lost his hands. He did not feel frustrated. He is now repairing watches by holding the instrument between his feet. Where there is a will, there is a way.

John Scully, the head of multinationals like Pepsi and Apple, had humble beginnings. He was painting the Pepsi Cartons in the early days. After 16 years of hard work he rose by degrees to the rank of Chief Executive Officer.

Beethoven, one of the greatest music maestros, was deaf and suffered from liver and kidney ailments. He was told that he had no talent for music. It did not dampen his spirits. He took it as a challenge and worked on the Piano to become an all-time great. Similarly, Handel was blind and Mozart had a rheumatic heart. They looked upon their handicaps as opportunities.