| Have you ever asked yourself this question? Most of | | | | examples: |
| us have; especially in moments of change or when | | | | Winston Churchill, the English Prime Mister, graduated |
| we come across new opportunities. There are many | | | | last in his college class. |
| reasons you might feel that you cannot succeed. You | | | | Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, with a net |
| might feel you are too shy, too young, too old, not | | | | worth estimated at several billion, dropped out of |
| healthy or not educated enough... | | | | high school. |
| Whatever it might be it is nothing more than an | | | | Thomas Edison, the American inventor, had only |
| excuse. If you take a serious look at your reasoning | | | | three months of formal education and he brought us |
| you will recognize that yourself. | | | | some of mankind's greatest inventions which we are |
| Let's first look at being too old: | | | | all using every day. |
| My father sold his successful road building business in | | | | Les Brown, one of the world's most famous |
| Germany at age 63 and went to Russia as one of | | | | motivational speakers was labeled mentally retarded |
| the first "capitalists" to open a German sausage | | | | in grade school. |
| factory. Talk about a new beginning. | | | | Muriel Seibert was the first woman to make one |
| Ray Kroc was fifty-two when he bought the | | | | billion dollars and she only had a high school diploma. |
| McDonald brothers' hamburger stand and turned it | | | | Stephen Spielberg, the American director, was an |
| into one of the largest franchise globally. | | | | unknown C student in high school. |
| Colonel Sanders didn't begin his worldwide chain of | | | | Oprah Winfrey left college before graduation and is |
| restaurants until he was in his mid-sixties. | | | | today one of the richest and most respected woman |
| Nelson Mandela spent nearly 30 years in prison before | | | | in America. |
| becoming the first black president of South Africa at | | | | Sean Connery, the Scottish actor, quit school at age |
| age 76. Today at 89 he still travels the globe as an | | | | 13 with a sixth grade education. One of his early jobs |
| inspiring ambassador of world peace. | | | | was polishing coffins and look where he is today. His |
| Or do you think you are not educated enough? | | | | first acting coach told him that he needed more |
| You can't imagine how intimidated I used to be by | | | | education. That day, he picked up a book and |
| the titles and letters people use after their name: | | | | started reading and has never stopped. |
| PhD, MBA, PSE, CRB, IBRC or whatever it might be. | | | | These are just a few; there are thousands of |
| My parents gave me a decent education but nothing | | | | examples like this... What separates these people |
| as impressive as the confusing mass of abbreviations | | | | from the crowd were not credentials from exclusive |
| on people's visiting cards. I felt quite under educated | | | | schools or knowing the right people but rather a |
| until I met Jim Rohn who said: "Formal education can | | | | commitment to setting goals and then taking decisive |
| make you a living, self education can make you a | | | | action every single day to achieve them. When |
| fortune." | | | | Oprah was asked how she makes herself exercise |
| In all truth I was more interested in the fortune so I | | | | so extensively every day. "I recommit every |
| set out to self educate myself. Since 1978 I am on | | | | morning" was her answer. |
| my educational trip and enjoy it immensely. I travel | | | | You may think that achievements like these can only |
| and read extensively, attend a lot of seminars, my | | | | be reached by special people, better people. But |
| 20 GB MP3 player is full of educational materials and | | | | what makes those who achieve greatness excel isn't |
| my car has plenty of "How to" CD programs. In my | | | | necessarily outstanding talent or brains or aptitude |
| trainings I teach what I have learned and what I | | | | but rather the fact that they are willing to go all out |
| have personally experienced. | | | | and do something with what they have. It is attitude. |
| One can never learn enough but that does not mean | | | | It is action. They keep studying. Ask questions that |
| we should only learn. We must put what we learn to | | | | lead to more question and find teachers, coaches and |
| practical use continuously. To succeed we need to | | | | mentors. |
| integrate the wisdom and tips we find into our daily | | | | Ultimately, all education is self-education. Start today |
| lives. | | | | and never stop! YOU can do it! YOU are good |
| There are millions of extremely successful people out | | | | enough! |
| there without a doctor title. Just look at the following | | | | |