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I
once read an article which was written by a man named Jeff Keller. After I
finished the article, I realized that the title, "There’s A Lot
More Left In The Tube", is one of those motivational quotations that
you would like to hang up in every room to remind you that you should
never give up too soon. I would recommend that most classroom teachers
should consider putting this quotation up in a banner in a place of honour
where all of your students will be reminded of this very important
message.
No
doubt we have all experienced frustration and despair at various times in
our lives when we felt we had done everything we possibly could to achieve
a particular goal. It may be something as simple as trying to grow flowers
in your garden, or as serious as how to cultivate a better relationship
with your child or spouse, or even something to do with your job as a
classroom teacher. Whatever the case, there comes a point when you simply
feel you can’t go on any further.
And yet, the secret to success, and
the motivation you are seeking, may very well be as close as your tube of
toothpaste. Let me try to explain.
Every
time I come to the end of a tube of toothpaste, I am completely amazed
that just when I think the tube is absolutely empty, I can squeeze many
more brushings out of it. I’m sure you have all gone through the same
thing. I look at the seemingly empty tube in my hand, then I look at the
new tube in the box, and I have to decide whether to throw away the old
and open the new, or try to squeeze a few more out of the old. Without
fail, just when I think the tube is absolutely empty, I get to squeeze
another 12 or 15 more brushings out of it.
So,
next time you find yourself in a situation where you feel you just can’t
go on any further, remember the "tube". It’s usually when
things haven’t been working out and you feel like quitting, that you
experience a major breakthrough. We can all recall times when success came
when we were on our last chance or when we were doing something for the
final time. It is when you dig deep down for that one last burst of energy
that you find your goal.
Unfortunately,
too many people quit too early - just before they could get around that
final corner to success. All they needed to do is squeeze one more drop
from the tube. Space does not permit me to write the hundreds of examples
of successful people who kept on going in the face of adversity and
disappointment. Even the writers of "Chicken Soup For The Soul"
were rejected by 33 publishers before they found one who would print their
book. What if they would have quit too soon? Many of the world’s leaders
are examples of people who reached their goal just after their greatest
setback.
One
of the most important lessons you can give your students is that if you
have a goal; if you truly believe in yourself; and if you have the
passion, enthusiasm and commitment to go for your dream; then keep
squeezing that "inner tube of toothpaste" one more time. And
don't forget this when you feel you have done everything possible with one
or more of your more challenging students. Just keep squeezing. It is only
when you run out of the "passion" that you will know that your
"tube is empty". Just make sure that you don’t quit too soon.
Success may be just around the corner.
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