it seems to answer a lot of questions.

Thanks for sharing that Steve. When you take James Stockdale's approach, it breeds tenacity. I believe that tenacity is one of the main keys to success.

Eventually, you learn what seems to work, and what doesn't.

Perhaps this kind of optimism is really a "belief in yourself" - that you're good enough to be able to be a success. Maybe not at this very moment, but you will succeed in the future, eventually - if you stick with it long enough!

- Dien Rice

> The best example I can think of comes from a
> book called Good to Great by Jim Collins.
> They called an idea on positive thinking
> 'The Stockdale Paradox'.

> Basically it means that you never waver in
> your belief that one day you will achieve
> your goal but you face the brutal reality of
> your situation. In this case the kid should
> have practised more because he wasn't good
> enough. That was his brutal reality. Had he
> really wanted it and had the belief
> instilled that 'one day' he would win, if he
> kept practising, kept working, concentrating
> and focusing then sooner or later he would
> prevail and beat the opposition.

> Stockdale was a prisoner of war who survived
> years of torture and brutality. When asked
> who didn't make it, he replied 'That's easy,
> the optimists'. He never wavered in the
> belief that one day he'd go home, he just
> never (like the optimist) expected it by
> Christmas, or Easter or next year. The
> optimistic people did and died of a broken
> heart.

> Positive thinking is good. It's just it has
> to be the right type of positive thinking.