Today would have been my brother Shawn’s 61st Birthday. He died at 46, way too young to cancer. But thankfully, during his all-too-brief time on Earth, he inspired me so much…
How to compete, play fair, be smart, use numbers, be judicious, have a decent temperament, have a great work ethic, and have persistence. In fact, the brown placque barely visible at the back of the cluttered collection of knicknacks here in this photo is identical to one that was on his desk and reads:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Death sucks! Especially when it takes one so vibrant, full-of-life and clarity so young.