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It Couldn't Be Done



"This poem has served our team members and ourselves well over the years, and continues to do so in these uncertain and challenging economic times. This poem has probably added more value to people's lives than any other valuable resource or words of wisdom that we have shared with our friends and colleagues around the world."

Inaki Legorburu           


One of Napoleon Hill's favorite poems
was "It Couldn't Be Done," written by Edgar Guest in 1914. With its
emphasis on Positive Mental Attitude, can-do spirit, enthusiasm,
perseverance, and refusal to let scoffers and doubters dissuade one
from one's dreams and desire for achievement, this delightful verse
captures in poetic form the essence of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow
Rich Philosophy.


"It Couldn't Be Done"

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing, and he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one has ever done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing, and he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that await to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.


Edgar Guest (1881-1959) was an English immigrant who arrived in
Detroit (USA) in 1891. He began supporting his family as a newspaper
copy boy and went on to become a career newspaperman and radio
personality who wrote more than 20 volumes of poetry. At his death he
was mourned as "the poet of the people" because he wrote popular
sentimental poems about everyday family life and values.

Each of us needs inspirational and motivational support at times!

We regularly supply our team members with new educational material
designed to inspire and motivate. On rainy Sunday afternoons
we seem to be at our most productive.