Many people argue that trying is not good enough. You must succeed. But reality dictates that you may not succeed. You may not be as talented as someone else. A more talented tennis player may well try just as hard as you and they will usually win. You are still a success because you did your best.

Also, you achieved minor successes on the way to failure. You provided the audience with a decent game to watch. The British have watched Tim Henman with fascination for many years! He can always be guaranteed to give you an interesting game to watch along with a nervous breakdown if you are a supporter.

When people say “Don’t try, do.” They are confusing two meanings of the word ‘try.’

To ‘try’ as some one like Jimmy Connors tries, means to set your mind to achieve something and then never give up.

‘Try’ in the feebler sense means: ‘Try it once or twice and then fail and then give up.’ It is very easy to try a few times and then give up. Many people do this.

The difference between achievers and non-achievers is that achievers try again and again and again and non-achievers try once or twice.

People, who really try, keep their goals in sight. They think daily of the benefits of success in achieving their aims and so keep trying. Most winners of Wimbledon keep in mind the benefits of winning.

They will immediately become world famous. There are large cash prizes and they will have the satisfaction of knowing they have beaten the best in the world. They will hold these benefits in mind in vivid, exciting technicolor.

Another benefit of trying hard and achieving or nearly achieving their dream will be that their character will grow and become strong.

The great Carthaginian general, Hannibal, nearly defeated and destroyed the Roman Empire in its early days. He defeated the Roman legions again and again and nearly took Rome.

He failed eventually because he was not given support by the Carthaginian political establishment when he needed it. When Rome won the final battle, he was sent into exile but he kept on trying to curb the power of Rome.

Hannibal, even in exile, never gave up his enmity for Rome. He still tried to defeat the Romans by supporting the enemies of Rome. After his defeat by Scipio the younger, he advised the enemies of Rome in the Eastern Mediterranean for many years. His advice was often brilliant and enabled his clients to succeed against the world power of those days.

He suggested to the Bithynians that they catapult pots full of poisonous snakes onto the ships from Pergamum, a Roman client state. When the pots of snakes exploded on board, the semi-naked oarsmen and sailors panicked. The Bithynians secured the victory.

The Romans did not ignore warning signs like that. On hearing of Hannibal’s involvement in the battle they sent an army to capture him.

Eventually, he was cornered in Bithynia in a village. Roman troops surrounded the village. There was no escape. Hannibal took poison and died rather than be taken back in triumph to Italy. His final victory over the Romans was to deprive them of their revenge. His last words, according to Polybius, were:

“Let us relieve the Roman people of their long anxiety since they find it tedious to wait for the death of an old man.” He died aged 63.

A historian comments:

“In retrospect you can see that Hannibal failed but, My God, what a glorious failure. He took an army from Spain; marched through the south of France went across the Alps into Italy; won three glorious battles and his name survives. This was a great general. OK, he didn’t conquer Rome but he tried.”

His trying produced many successes along the way and made his name a legend.

Trying may not lead to ultimate success but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did what you could. Beverley Sills, the opera singer, sums it all up in some powerful words:

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."

Trying, in the true sense of the word, often does produce success. Robert the Bruce watched a spider try again and again to build its web. Eventually it succeeded. Encouraged by its efforts, he decided to fight the Norman English one last time and won the great battle of Bannockburn.

When we try, we need to accept that we may not succeed but we know, for certain, that, if we do not try, we will not succeed.

Trying, then, is not a dirty word. It is a word which can bring glory and achievement with it. Give trying a try and see what happens!

John Watson
http://www.motivationtoday.com