Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Those things that hurt, instruct."

Real success is a journey. We have to approach it with a long-term mindset. We have to hang in there, stay focused, and keep moving forward.

In 'You Gotta Keep Dancing’, Tom Hansel says, “Pain is inevitable but misery is optional.”

Now that I’m officially a senior citizen, I can say there are two things I know about my life: First, it has contained many surprises. My life didn’t turn out like I thought it would. Some things turned out better than I imagined, some things worse. No matter who you are, it’s impossible to know how your life will turn out. Second, as long as I take responsibility for the things I can control in my life and try my best to learn from them, I can feel contented.

Henri Frederic Ariel said, “We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves.”

William Moulton Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman, remarked: “Every success I know has been reached because the person was able to analyze defeat and actually profit from it in the next undertaking.”

Failure isn’t the best teacher. Neither is experience. Only evaluated experience teaches us. That’s where the profit lies in any experience we have.

In the Marines, “riggers” — the people who pack (i.e., reassemble after use) parachutes for other Marines — have to make at least one jump a month. Who packed their ‘chute? They did.

The Roman army used a similar technique to make sure bridges and aqueducts were safe: The person who designed the arts had to stand under each arch while the scaffolding was being removed.

Success does not always bring growth, but personal growth will always add to our success.