The importance of not quitting

SUCCESS is never sweeter than after having tasted failure. What comes easy never stays. Keep this in mind and you may just end up being the best in the world.

For the actor who plays Stanley in the American version of The Office, the odds were against him ever making it big in Hollywood.

TONIGHT I was lucky enough to sit and watch comedian Louis CK test out some new material for an upcoming special. He played Governor's Comedy, a relatively small venue.

While he was up there, about mid way through an impeccably brilliant set of raw, untested jokes, something struck me - Louis CK is, at this point in time, the absolute best in the world at what he does. No comic is more sought after. No comic is more buzzed about. No comic has his current drawing power.

Louie just achieved this level of success.

He’s 44 years old.

I couldn’t love that fact any more than I do. At 44 years old, you know that at some point in his life, actually, probably at hundreds upon hundreds of points in his life, Louis CK doubted himself. When he turned 30 he may have internally reconciled to the fact that he may never be a huge star. And then again at 35. And then again at 40. The man began his comedy career in 1984. That’s, for many of his current fans, literally a lifetime ago. Yet, after decades of relative mediocrity in the career that he loves, Louie kept on keeping on. And that perseverance, that resolve, that belief in his own abilities… it paid off. And as the crowd was applauding tonight, Louie smiled. And I could tell that it was genuine. It had to be.

Success is never sweeter than after having tasted failure.

Appreciation for the present is lost on some people, especially when success comes all too easy. And that’s not just true of the entertainment world. Remember the hot kid in high school? He or she was probably kind of a dick, right? Thought so. And as far as Hollywood goes, you don’t think people who achieve success early in life sometimes take it for granted? Watch Celebrity Rehab.

For example, take the actor who currently plays Stanley in the American version of The Office. With his look and at his age, the odds were against him ever making it big in Hollywood. But now, at age 54, he’s in every single episode of one of the most syndicated comedies in the world. His face is on television, on some station, semi-constantly. You just know that 10 years ago he figured that was an utter impossibility. But he didn’t quit. I personally find stories like that inspiring.

Ours is a culture in which if something doesn’t come easy, it’s often abandoned. If at first you don’t succeed, try something easier and hope for the best. F*ck that. Yes, giving up and settling is far easier than trying hard and succeeding, but it’s also infinitely less rewarding. Yes, a silver medal is great, but ask any Olympian, it sure as shit ain’t gold. Win, lose or draw, I’ve always had an infinite amount of respect for people who try. Trying eliminates what ifs. And yes, at the end of the day you might just not have it in you, but shit, what if you do?

What I’m saying here is that if you want something bad enough, don’t convince yourself that it’s unattainable. What comes easy never stays. And who knows, maybe not tomorrow, but one day, you just may wind up being the best in the world at what you do.

This article by Peter Hoare originally appeared in AskMen.