“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

Ever hear someone say “what’s the point, it’ll never happen, it’s too hard”, or “they’re better than me, I could never be like them” or “I’m not good enough” or simply “I can’t do this”?

The list of reasons why people give up on themselves is endless but the fact is, if you’re keeping your dream alive in your mind and you’re taking action in some small way, then you are always moving towards making your dream becoming your reality. Just because you don't know how near or far away you are from achieving what you want doesn't mean you should stop believing that you will get there.

JK Rowling took five years to complete her first Harry Potter book and it then took another year for a publishing house to consider giving it the green light. During her years of writing she endured hardship and struggles yet she kept going in her own small way. If she had given up after the 12^th major publisher had turned her down she would not be experiencing the success she has now.

James Dyson created over 5,000 dual cylinder vacuum prototypes before he made one that worked and went on to experience the success he has now. How many of us would have given up long before the 5,000^th prototype?

Thomas Eddison also is known for the quote: “I have not failed, I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He's another perfect example of how his attitude kept his dream alive and eventually he got there.

The trick is to not put all your eggs in one basket, if one way doesn't work try another, and then another, there's always another way. Giving up is easy, we can all think of a reason why we don’t think it will happen for us but if you just keep believing and keep going, the wheels of life once set in motion will always bring what you want ever closer to you - so long as you don’t give up!

“You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.” Zig Ziglar

No one else exists with your unique set of talents. No one else thinks like you do. No one else does things exactly like you do. No one else has lived the life you have so far. You are one of a kind. Only you will bring your gifts to the world in your own individual way, and the world most certainly needs them!

Your way of doing anything is different to how anyone else would do it and the people you reach are not the same people that another person would reach. This is why it is so essential that you do your part, that you bring your exclusive skillset and personality to everything you do and that you do it now!

Don’t be shy of who you are, start doing what makes you happy if only in a small way. Take one small action which involves using the skills or which involves expressing more of that desire that resides inside you. Start setting your natural born talent alight. You’ll know when you’ve found one of your gifts because of the good feeling you’ll get when you do anything that involves using it. That’s your sign, that’s your clue to becoming more of who you really are and this is where you should continue to focus your efforts from now on.

You can do this, you can and should be sharing your innate expertise and talents with the world because if everyone did this, there would far more people leading happy lives. The contribution you make when doing what you have a flair for is, without exception, significant. Not only does doing what you do best have, as a minimum, a worthwhile effect on you but it also has an impact in the part of the world in which you live. It will leave you feeling good about yourself so go on and make a difference just by being your true, extraordinary, amazing self!