You really can’t quote me on this one because I didn’t write it. However, I’ve had it memorized since  junior high and it has served this optimist well.

I never knew who the author was by until I looked it up recently. Now, in my head, it’s a JEOPARDY! question…

“I’ll take LITTLE KNOWN POETS for $2,000, Alex.”

“His poem ’The Man Who Thinks He Can’ appeared in a 1965 collection titled,  ’Poems That Live Forever.’”

BEEP-BEEP… “Rick?”

“Who is Walter D. Wintle, Alex?”

“Yes! and… oh, the sound you just heard signals the end of the Double JEAPARDY! round. You can put down your signaling buttons.”

OKAY! WAKE UP!… Of course this visualization ends with me having a runaway lead and breaking the all-time JEOPARDY! record for consecutive wins. I’m seriously thinking about trying out one day. In the mean time, I’m the reigning JEOPARDY! champion in my living room.

This poem; the Boy Scout motto, oath and law and a bunch of songs from Mary Poppins and Ray Charles are a few of my lasting memories from childhood. Just thought I’d share.

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’d like to win, but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out in the world you’ll 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 one who thinks he can.

Walter D. Wintle, “The Man Who Thinks He Can.” – Poems That Live Forever, comp. Hazel Feldman 1965.

PEACE.
Rick

In my speaker coaching business I have a two-page document that spells out the rules of the road. It defines my professional relationship with the speaker, outlines our objectives, sets policy and assigns accountability. It’s brief but detailed, pretty serious and well thought out based on my experiences inside of coaching relationships.

However, upon seeing it a number of speakers have referred to it as ‘strict’ or ‘hard.’ I’m sure I’ve even discouraged a few prospective professional relationships based on similar reactions. The truth is, I’m not nearly that strict or hard when it comes to the real relationship and my usual response is, “The rules only apply if being a nice guy isn’t working.”

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