Don’t Ever Give Up!

Leadership quote by Coach Jim Valvano

Imagine this!  You’re on a quest for success be it in your personal or professional life.  You’re at the top of your game, feeling incredibly confident, and can nearly taste the thrill of victory. Then boom! Here comes a setback, disappointment, or the feeling of failure rearing its ugly head. We’ve all felt it one time or another or experienced it in some aspect of our lives. But ask yourself, what’s the secret to getting back up?  As cliché as it sounds, the key is don’t ever give up! “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up!” In any endeavor, our talent may be enough to get us in the door, but what sustains us the most in times of adversity is the makeup and the DNA of our character. While battling an extremely rare and incurable form of cancer for nearly a year, Coach Jim Valvano gave one of the most powerful, selfless, and motivating speeches in the history of sports. The historic and celebrated speech at the ESPY awards transcends his legacy and exemplifies the magnitude of his brave and courageous character 30 years later. In honor of Jimmy V week, let’s take the time to celebrate the life of Coach Jim Valvano and the legacy of his character. Character refers to the moral and ethical values that we possess, especially during times of hardship. Facing the most difficult challenge of his life, Jim Valvano founded the Jimmy V foundation for cancer research as he graciously and lovingly thought of others battling cancer all while knowing his life was surely on borrowed time. He ended his epic speech by saying, “Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.”