In 2017, thinker and entrepreneur Shane Parrish published an article titled, “The Difference Between Amateurs and Professionals.” He lists 18 differences while asking the question: Why is it that some people seem to be hugely successful and do so much, while the vast majority of us struggle to tread water?” Shane believes the answer boils down to one key aspect—mindset. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to write about some of these differences, starting with his first observation: 

“Amateurs stop when they achieve something. Professionals understand that the initial achievement is just the beginning."

I remember years ago when our family visited New Zealand, someone pointed out that the inventor of the first airplane had actually been a Kiwi—Richard Pearse. Unfortunately, Pearse’s flying machine never received the attention that it deserved, and the Wright brothers went on to claim the title for inventing the first one. While numerous factors contributed to Pearse failing to make headlines, I wonder if his mindset was also a contributing factor.

In any case, consider the following people from history who failed greatly, yet persevered, to accomplish something significant with their lives (By the way, achieving minimal success and settling for little when the potential exists to go beyond that initial achievement, is in my perspective, akin to failure):

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Today, his theme parks are testimony to a re-fired imagination and the implementation of his great ideas!

Oprah Winfrey was publicly fired from her first job as a TV news anchor due to being too emotionally invested. Today she has a net worth of $3.5 billion largely because of her charismatic personality and compassion for others.

Henry Ford went broke five times, failing early in multiple businesses. But with hard work and determination, Ford went on to establish the Ford Motor Company with the innovation of the assembly line, setting the entire automotive industry up for success. 

Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein all performed poorly in their studies. As a result, Newton was put in charge of the family farm, but failing miserably, he was sent off to Cambridge where he became a famous scholar. Teachers told Edison that he was “too stupid" to learn anything; thanks to his perseverance despite over a thousand failures at inventing the light bulb, darkness no longer has the upper hand in our lives. Einstein couldn’t speak until he was four, didn’t read until he was seven, was expelled from school, and failed the entrance exam into Zurich Polytechnic. Today he’s known for winning a Nobel prize and changing the face of modern physics.

Finally, did you know that Winston Churchill also struggled in his education, failing sixth grade? After his schooling, he failed in numerous elections for public office before becoming the Prime Minister at age 62. 

So what defines you? Do you tend to settle for mediocre success or play it safe after experiencing initial success? Do you push through failure, or take your current achievements to another level, refusing to ever stop at growing, developing, and reaching for something greater and more significant? 

In light of playing it safe and settling for present achievement, consider John 15:8 in the NLT: “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."