We get motivational quotes from a lot of places and people these days and some have no impact on us while other ones, hit us right in the heart. All the great quotes from the Rocky movies are that way; they just know where to find us mentally and get us fired up.
In addition to those for me, I heard a story one time that I use when I speak to groups about making things happen. It is the old story about the guy traveling across the desert with his family and he is tired and thirsty. He comes upon an abode and sees the light on upstairs. He starts to knock on the door and knock and knock. Nothing happens. So, he continues to knock and knock. Finally, the man comes down, perturbed, opens the door and says, “The only reason I am opening this door is so that you will stop knocking.”
Always knock and always keep knocking.
Recently, I had the honor to do an interview with the new Nashville Predators General Manager Chris MacFarland. He has a great story on how he got into hockey. He was actually going to law school in New York and the NHL offices were not far away. He started making a few contacts and was really not getting anywhere with his dream. He graduated law school and was prepared to go that way into the traditional route, but that hockey pull was too strong. He said, “I got a thousand no’s before I got that one yes. I kept knocking and knocking and knocking on doors until someone opened it. Once they opened that door, I was not looking back. I had that opportunity and wasn’t going to let it go.”
Always knock and always keep knocking.
I pulled him aside after the interview and said how hearing that made me feel because I preach to always keep knocking. He said that he was determined to keep knocking on every single door until one opened. He never quit, something else I preach, and he believed in himself. How wonderful.
This literally applies to anything you want to do. A thousand no’s before his first yes. Had he stopped knocking at 999, he wouldn’t be where he is now, General Manager of the Nashville Predators.
Always knock and always keep knocking!
