This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
John Whitmore, fully Sir John Whitmore
All instruction, all criticism, every reduction in choice, every manifestation of hierarchy, every act of secrecy subtly lowers people’s self-belief. Coaching, trust, openness, respect, authentic praise, freedom of choice and, of course, success raise it.
Belief | Choice | Criticism | Freedom | Openness | People | Praise | Respect | Secrecy | Self | Success | Trust |
Thomas Edison, fully Thomas Alva Edison
The first requisite for success is to develop the ability to focus and apply your mental and physical energies to the problem at hand - without growing weary. Because such thinking is often difficult, there seems to be no limit to which some people will go to avoid the effort and labor that is associated with it.
Ability | Effort | Focus | Labor | People | Success | Thinking | Will |
This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career.
One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.
Important | Knowledge | Life | Life | People | Pleasure | Success | Work | Value |
Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.
Ability | Better | Confidence | Courage | Defeat | Endurance | Future | Opportunity | Struggle | Success | Obstacle |
Vince Lombardi, fully Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
Dedication | Determination | Price | Success | Work |
Helen Keller. aka Helen Adams Keller
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Ambition | Character | Experience | Quiet | Soul | Success | Suffering | Vision | Ambition | Trial |
Thomas J. Watston, Sr., fully Thomas John Watson, Sr.
If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.
The man who thinks he can: If you think you are beaten, you are, if you think you dare not, you don't. If you would like to win but you think you can't, it's almost certain you won't. If you think you'll lose, you've lost, For out in the world we find, success begins with a fellow's will. It's all in the state of mind. If you think you're outclassed, you are. You've got to think high to rise. You've got to be sure of yourself before you can ever win a prize. Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, but soon or late, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can!
John D. Rockefeller, fully John Davidson Rockefeller I
I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.
Nature | Perseverance | Success | Think |