I am reminded that the life of an entrepreneur isn't always an easy one. There are frequent challenges that can toss you into a tailspin and leave you wondering if you'll come out alright. The easy route is to give up and throw in the towel - and that is when you are tested. What are you made of? Can you carry on to win the day or will you let circumstances, whatever they may be, drag you down.

Ben Horowitz published a fantastic book about the subject called "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" - a must read.

I was, however, recently introduced to a poem that captures that spirit succinctly so I wanted to share it here.

The Quitter

By: Robert Service

When you’re lost in the Wild, and you’re scared as a child,
And Death looks you bang in the eye,
And you’re sore as a boil, it’s according to Hoyle
To cock your revolver and . . . die.
But the Code of a Man says: “Fight all you can,”
And self-dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it’s easy to blow . . .
It’s the hell-served-for-breakfast that’s hard.

“You’re sick of the game!” Well, now, that’s a shame.
You’re young and you’re brave and you’re bright.
“You’ve had a raw deal!” I know-but don’t squeal,
Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight.
It’s the plugging away that will win you the day,
So don’t be a piker, old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it’s so easy to quit:
It’s the keeping-your-chin-up that’s hard.

It’s easy to cry that you’re beaten-and die;
It’s easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope’s out of sight-
Why, that’s the best game of them all!
And though you come out of each grueling bout,
All broken and beaten and scarred,
Just have one more try-it’s dead easy to die,
It’s the keeping-on-living that’s hard.