Hello followers!
Two exceptionally inspiring people passed away recently of cancer, and it wasn't their death that caught my attention, but it was the lives they lived. Betty Skelton and Steve Jobs were both pioneers that broke through barriers of fear, failure, and hard times, with Ms. Skelton opening up opportunites to women in auto racing and aviation, to Mr. Jobs succeeding, failing, and failing again, to becoming even more succesful. With their confidence in themselves and determination to do what they wanted to do, no matter how many times they were told they couldn't succeed, they just kept pushing themselves because it was what they were passionate about.
What is truly inspiring about Betty Skelton, "The First Lady of Firsts," is not only her list of accomplishments (first woman to drive an Indy Car in 1950's, first woman to drive a jet car at over 300mph, held three land speed records and one transcontenental record in 1950's, won three aerobatic championships in the 1940's, held the world speed record in a piston engine aircraft), but the fact that she accomplished these things with pure love of what she was doing. "My heart makes me tick” was her response in 1999 interview, “and my heart and my will and my desires are mixed up with challenge." It truly never phased her that "women can't do this or that," she just loved being at the limit, and just happened to be a woman.
Steve Jobs is inspiring to me because he never let failure get in the way of success, he always had a hunger to improve is ideas and inventions, and he was able to face times of risk and uncertainty with an incredible calmness. He inspires me because he took his failures and used them in a positive way, which helped him become incredibly successful.
Betty Skelton and Steve Jobs showed that determination, confidence, and inner strength can bring you to accomplish great things, and I hope that, someday, I can inspire at least one person in my lifetime too.
Yours Truly,
Ashley
Two exceptionally inspiring people passed away recently of cancer, and it wasn't their death that caught my attention, but it was the lives they lived. Betty Skelton and Steve Jobs were both pioneers that broke through barriers of fear, failure, and hard times, with Ms. Skelton opening up opportunites to women in auto racing and aviation, to Mr. Jobs succeeding, failing, and failing again, to becoming even more succesful. With their confidence in themselves and determination to do what they wanted to do, no matter how many times they were told they couldn't succeed, they just kept pushing themselves because it was what they were passionate about.
What is truly inspiring about Betty Skelton, "The First Lady of Firsts," is not only her list of accomplishments (first woman to drive an Indy Car in 1950's, first woman to drive a jet car at over 300mph, held three land speed records and one transcontenental record in 1950's, won three aerobatic championships in the 1940's, held the world speed record in a piston engine aircraft), but the fact that she accomplished these things with pure love of what she was doing. "My heart makes me tick” was her response in 1999 interview, “and my heart and my will and my desires are mixed up with challenge." It truly never phased her that "women can't do this or that," she just loved being at the limit, and just happened to be a woman.
Steve Jobs is inspiring to me because he never let failure get in the way of success, he always had a hunger to improve is ideas and inventions, and he was able to face times of risk and uncertainty with an incredible calmness. He inspires me because he took his failures and used them in a positive way, which helped him become incredibly successful.
Betty Skelton and Steve Jobs showed that determination, confidence, and inner strength can bring you to accomplish great things, and I hope that, someday, I can inspire at least one person in my lifetime too.
Yours Truly,
Ashley
