Friday January 26, 2007
If You Think You're Beaten - You Are
I can't remember for sure, but I must have been no more than six
years old when I first heard this poem. My father used to recite it to
me every time I said something like "I can't", or "it's impossible". A
colleague came to see me the other day to discuss some managerial issues. We
talked about challenging people. Like a classically conditioned
Pavlovian dog, I found myself reciting the poem to myself. It's
interesting, my father must have recited this poem to me a thousand
times. He doesn't anymore. He doesn't have to, I can do it myself...
When I left home to go to school, 20 years ago, I took this poem and
framed it. It has been hanging in my dorm room at the university, and
in all my cubicles and offices I used ever since. It is hanging in my
Beijing office now, old-looking, yellow page, plastic covered. But the
message is clear. I think it is time that I pass this on to my
children, and my staff as well.
Lastly, I was always under the impression that this poem was written
by Rudyard Kipling (The Jungle Book). Apparently, this is a common
mistake. The poet who wrote this inspiring poem was Walter D. Wintle.
Posted at 09:54AM Jan 26, 2007 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal | Comments[15]
This is a personal weblog, I do not speak for my employer.
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Posted by Nick on May 14, 2007 at 05:57 AM CST #
I first saw this poem in my daughter's high school college adviser's office in Highland Park, CA.
Later, I became a teacher, was placed in Watts, CA and was teaching it to my 3rd graders when the principal came in and forbade me, hissing at me under her breath that they couldn't possibly understand it.
I left that school and the next year was at another school, a few miles away, also run by a black principal, and it was his requirement that every child in the school learn it. Go figure.
I've been trying to remember all of the words for years
and today decided to try the Internet! Thank You for posting this poem on your site.
Marsha Cunningham
retired teacher
Pomona, California
Posted by Marsha Cunningham on September 10, 2007 at 12:59 AM CST #
Marsha, thank you for your thoughts. Your students were blessed. Amiram
Posted by Amiram Hayardeny on September 10, 2007 at 07:48 AM CST #
This is a great writing. There are other versions. The point is that a person can accomplish the unexpected great things if he/she has a positive attitude and focuses on the goal.It applies to athletics, business and family. GO FOR IT!
Posted by Robin Fawsett on October 13, 2007 at 11:06 AM CST #
Hi!
Kipling did write something with a lot of 'ifs" so it's not surprising when we get these all mixed up. Thanks for your post.
[IF]
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
--Rudyard Kipling
Posted by DLH on January 04, 2008 at 05:34 AM CST #
Thanks for printing this.
I wanted something to draw on to train for my next Ironman Triathtlon. The words 'The man who wins is the man who thinks he can', will get me to the finish.
How true.
Posted by tim on January 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM CST #
i first saw this poem in the book ''think and grow rich'' by napoleon hill
Posted by dan on February 14, 2008 at 07:15 AM CST #
I was looking for the author of this poem, and found it on your blog. I have a different title of the poem, it`s called "it`s all in the state of mind"... But its for sure the same poem.. I`m not sure if you left out some lines, or if this is a different/edited poem.. All i know is that this is for sure a nice poem, and like you i have it framed on my wall.. :)
It`s all in the state of mind
If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you dont
If you like to win, but thinkyou can`t
it`s almost for certain you won`t
If ou think you`ll lose, you`ve lost
For out in the world you`ll find
success begings with at persons will
it`s all in the state of mind
For many a race is lost
before ever a step is run!
And many a coward fails
before ever his work has begun
Think BIG and you deeds will grow
think small and you`ll fall behind
think that you CAN, and you 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 battles don`t always go
to the stronger og fastest man.
But sooner or later the man who wins,
is the man who belives he can!
- Elin, Oslo Norway
Posted by Elin on March 01, 2009 at 08:39 PM CST #
Hi Elin,
It sure is the same, and my guess is that some of it was edited out of the
version I learned. I first read it from the wall of my daughter's high
school college counselor's office and asked her for a copy.
Later, when I finished college and became a teacher I was beginning to teach it to my 3rd grade class, in a very poor and gang infested part of town. The principal came in and forbade me to continue, saying, "They can't
understand that". I was shocked, but as a 1st year teacher, was also
afraid of her. She didn't hire me back for the next year, but I was placed at a school just a few miles away and that principal, who was voted principal of the year in the previous year, made it mandatory for every child, Kindergarten-6th grade to learn the poem; and it was recited at assembly on the playground every Monday morning.
PS At the end of that 1st year, I began to write a textbook for beginning reading and writing because what the schools had to offer was not adequate
for all students. They needed decodable text, words that sound like
they're spelled, to at first help them read with confidence, if they just knew the letter sounds.
I added to it throughout my career and used it in my classroom, giving copies to parents and other teachers. It is now a free download on my website, Arts Improving Academics, link below, and I also offer free coaching with it.
Click on e-Book, to see it; it's 350 pages which also includes the parent/teacher manual part. There is also a student edition link on the same page. So, if you know anyone who needs to teach or tutor English reading to beginners, this would be a very big help. I'm going to make a recording of the directions so busy people can get the idea if they don't have time to read the directions.
Thank you for contacting me with this update, Marsha Pomona, California, USA www.artsimprovingacademics.org www.cunninghampuzzles.com
Posted by Marsha Cunningham on March 02, 2009 at 02:09 AM CST #
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My sister was opening an old book she had bought my mum long before she passed away, the page was folded on this quotation. I don't think I have ever heard it but thought it was so true. I try always to think positive and thank god so far my life has been good, I am only 48! I strongly believe negative thoughts attract negative energy. I went online as thought I would print it out and show it to my children. Thanks.
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