Lessons From a Third Grade Dropout

by Rick Rigsby

“Son, if you’re going to do a job, do it right!”

All labor has value. If you’re a street sweeper, sweep streets the way Michelangelo painted pictures. Sweep streets the way Beethoven composed music. Sweep streets the way Shakespeare wrote poetry.

If I could collect my Dad’s wisdom regarding excellence and offer it in one sentence, it would be this: focus on doing your very best right now, and don’t stop!

Roger Rigsby believed the worth of an individual was found in keeping his word, treating people kindly, and doing your best.

How about living in such a way that the positive character choices you make work to instruct your instincts moment by moment, day by day, month by month, and year by year?

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity.”

Life boils down to choices. You cannot choose what happens to you. You can choose how you will respond.