This month the world lost one of its most outstanding minds in the field of modern physics. Stephen W. Hawking, best-selling author and Cambridge University physicist passed away on Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 after 50+ years of living with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 76 years old.
Given only a few years to live when he was first diagnosed, Stephen Hawking had a choice to make. Either he could give up and succumb to his disease, which limited the use of his body, not his mind, or he could rise to the many challenges set before him and focus on the things he could do and make a contribution to the world around him. Luckily for the world, he chose the latter and went on to inspire millions with his books, teachings, research, and discoveries.
While most of us will never have to face the trials and obstacles that Stephen Hawking did in order to live our lives to the fullest, we can learn a lot from his life, which was a testament to his tenacity and unbeatable spirit. Despite the fact that the use of his body was severely limited, Mr. Hawking was able to give us great insight on how to live life happily and successfully.
In 2010, during an interview with Diane Sawyer of NBC, Stephen Hawking gave some fatherly advice to his children and those words became some that were held dear by many.
“One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.”
If you think about it, this advice is pertinent to all manner of individuals, including Internet Marketers. Let’s break it down and take a look:
One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.
Many people who begin an internet marketing endeavor do so out of a sense of desperation. They dislike their job, need more money, or are simply in want of a better lifestyle in general. It is important to remember that your past does not determine your future and to leave past failures and discouragement where they belong, in the past.
Internet marketing also has a substantial learning curve for those who are transitioning from being an employee to an entrepreneur. Undoubtedly, you will experience times of doubt, disheartenment, and inadequacy, but if you keep your eyes on the prize, your focus on your goals and avoid putting too much attention on the difficulties and obstacles that must be overcome, you will soon find that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.
Internet marketing provides us with a way to make our work meaningful and fulfilling. When your work consists of activities that you love doing, makes a difference in your own and other people’s lives, and results in your own personal and professional satisfaction, your life will be full and happy. It will have a purpose.
Internet marketing gives us the chance to turn our passions into a profit. It’s not just a cliche’, it’s a reality. And when that happens, there’s no worry about ‘giving up work’. You won’t be able to keep yourself away from it!
Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.
This part of Stephen Hawking’s advice to his children could be interpreted two ways in the context of internet marketing. It could be advice pertaining to romantic love or professional love. In the first case, we would remind you that while building your internet marketing business, be sure that you make time for your loved ones. Time and again, we’ve seen how the passion for and hours spent building an online business has taken its toll on a marriage or family. Don’t let that happen to you. The work will always be there. Make sure that you have a balance so that your family gets the love and attention they deserve, too.
In the business sense, this could reflect the typical internet marketer’s obsession with the ‘next best thing’, otherwise known as Shiny Object Syndrome. While it may take you awhile to find the perfect ‘love match’ business-wise, once you find it, don’t become distracted by everything else that comes along, forgetting about your first business love, or in essence, throwing it away. Multiple streams of income are wonderful, but if you find a niche that brings you joy and profits, don’t toss it aside simply because something else catches your eye as well.
Stephen Hawking was a remarkable man and his life was a continuous journey of meeting and overcoming obstacles, trying new things, embracing new experiences, and thinking outside the box. These are all wonderful and useful qualities we should cultivate for our own lives in order to live them in the happiest and most successful way possible.
