Muriel Siebert
-Businesswoman
Know the more that you succeed, the more you will be challenged. Many think that the biggest battle I had to fight was to buy my seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Yes, that was a battle, but that only got me into the game.
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.. .it is your obligation and your privilege to be as good as you can be. At least, do all you can to do your best. Do your homework all of your life.
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... when you hit a closed door and it doesn't open easily, don't get discouraged. Just remember my Studebaker. When all else fails, just rear back and kick the door open. But don't do it just for yourself -- do it also for those who follow you.
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You need to stay focused on what's important to you. Don't give up.
Let me give you an example by telling you a little story about my first car, the one that brought me to New York from Cleveland, Ohio. Did you ever hear the name Studebaker? Well, that was the car, and it was really something. It wasn't flashy or expensive, and it wasn't very fast or dashing, and it really didn't have a lot of style. So what was important about this car? What was special about this car was that it taught me. It taught me how to deal with obstacles, problems, and life. That darned car door would never open right -- it would always stick. I'd pull it, I'd cajole it, I'd shake it, I'd even plead with it. There were times I swore at it. Finally, I learned, I just had to kick it. And you know what? That is the real lesson that old Studebaker taught me. When a door is hard to open, and if nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open.
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Keep an open mind, an inquisitive mind. Learn from your successes. Learn from your failures. It's OK to make a mistake, but you are not entitled to make the same mistake twice.
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You know, life is a very serious game. When you see a challenge, reach for it, grab it, and do it. And if you don't succeed, pick yourself up and try again.
Read the full commencement address »
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
May 17, 1998
Sent in by: admin
Posted on: 03.21.2006