The Power of a Good Quote

Sometimes I come across quotes that make me smile or even LOL (goodness our use of language or versions thereof is interesting, isn't it?). I have an affinity for comedians even though I am horrible at telling jokes. Then there are other times when I encounter something a comedian says that is truly meaningful, that is meant to be serious and taken that way. These tend to stop me in my tracks, sometimes with a tear in my eye as I ponder the sentiment.

Today a colleague shared a quote on Facebook from Robin Williams that hit so close to home for me that I put my phone down. That sense of being convicted in your soul, recognizing how your own maladaptive patterns of behavior are being called out, is how this one felt.

As I've shared in other blog posts, starting your own business is not for the faint of heart. One minute I can harness the passion that I have for what I'm doing and in the next breath question myself for every little thing, creating self doubts that can be so stifling. To wonder and to question if we are capable of something I think is human nature; but this quote helped me see I've been wallowing in, more like escaping into the doubt-filled space in my head. Here is the quote: "There's no shame in failing, the only shame is not giving things your best shot."

I'm curious if anyone else feels equally convicted by this quote. (Feel free to message me if so, I'd be glad to know I'm in good company!). I found myself wondering when in his life Robin Williams said this. I'm guessing there were many things he faced where he may have said something like "I'm not sure how this is going to turn out but I'll give it my best shot." My favorite role he ever portrayed was the Genie in the animated version of Aladdin. His comedic genius was on display through every scene, creating so many quotable moments that still make me laugh today. Because it seemed so easy for him, perhaps we overlook the hard work and effort that he actually put into the finished product.

While I know most things in life take effort and I've never been one to shy away from hard work, lately I have allowed myself to get bogged down, "not giving it [my] best shot." When I read this quote today, the shame was definitely there. I've once again found myself playing it safe for no good reason. So this blog post is me calling myself out, to continue to strive with the passion and purpose I harnessed to launch this business. In case you're wondering, yes I will thank my colleague for the proverbial "kick in the pants." I'm sure he'd be glad to know something he did mattered a great deal. And a thank you to Robin Williams - you're legacy still inspires me!

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