A lesson from the Socceroos

As Australia follows the gutsy performances of our football team 'the Socceroos' in the world cup in Germany, we are constantly reminded of what it takes to win, to succeed.

Our team has succeeded because they understand that the game is not over until the final whistle has sounded. In both games against Japan and Croatia, they trailed until late in the game, but persisted until they had scored again and won or achieved the outcome they needed.

We could learn much from our soccer heros. How many of us give up before the final whistle? How often do we succumb to temporary defeat and let it become our undertaker rather than our teacher?

"Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."
Herodotus

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Calvin Coolidge