Extensions of Remarks

July 17, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 14907 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS William James, one of America's most dis without pay, as if their life, or more impor tinguished psychologists and philosophers, tantly, the life of their country depended on A PATHWAY TO GREATNESS during the early part of this century stated, it. They believed in their goal, and they "Compared with what we ought to be, we knew every man had to give more than his are only half awake. Our fires are damped, share to make that goal a reality. I only HON. IKE SKELTON our draft is checked. We are making use of hope we can agree as well on other goals OF MISSOURI only a small part of our possible mental and and have that kind of 'American Spirit' IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES physical resources". more often." He concluded that the average individual It is that kind of spirit that is necessary if Monday, July 17, 1989 was using only a small part of his or her full we are going to build a Greater Oklahoma, potential, perhaps as low as 10 percent. We Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, recently, our and a New America that can lead again, and restrict ourselves to a small percentage of be competitive in a "one-world" global econ colleague from Oklahoma, WES WATKINS, ad our full potential and that percentage is re omy. It is that type of spirit that will lead to dressed Oklahoma Baptist University during its duced further by negative anti and adver more than personal success, but to build a commencement ceremony. His talk, entitled, sary campaigns to encourage citizens to be common bond for a common goal. Remem "A Pathway to Greatness" is a positive mes against-not for-something or someone. ber for a personal or common goal to be mo sage to the young people of our Nation and is In his new book, "Unlimited Power", An tivational, it requires constant commitment commended to Members of this body: thony Robbins states: from workers and constituents, not just the "Ultimate power is synergistic. It comes desire of the chief executive or government A PATHWAY FOR GREATNESS from people working together, not working leaders. Thank you, President Agee: Members of apart. We now have the technology to The second quality is enthusiasm to the Administration and faculty, friends, stu change people's perception in almost an in achieve the goal you set for yourself, your dents, and our honored guests today, the stant. It is time to use it in a positive way community, state or nation. The degree of 1989 graduating Seniors of Oklahoma Bap for betterment of us all." your ambition to your goal is measured by tist University. I know the quality of the That is especially true today if we are to your enthusiasm to achieve your goal. OBU students, for the past few years I have build a Greater Oklahoma and Nation. Charles Schwab, one-time president of had interns from OBU in my Washington We all know when an individual becomes Bethlehem Steel Company stated, "A office. I am pleased and honored to deliver depressed, rejected or ill, a person just does person can succeed at almost anything for your commencement address, which I have not perform to their normal potential, let which he or she has unlimited enthusiasm entitled "A Pathway for Greatness." alone to his or her full potential. Therefore, to achieve". J.C. Penney once stated, "People are the a positive "can-do" attitude is a must if we principal asset of a company, whether it are to fulfill our greatest potential. Enthusiasm is the inspiration of anything makes things to sell; sell things made by It is a known fact that your energy, crea great. It is the "self-starter" that makes other people, or supplies intangible services. tivity, memory, judgment, perception, abili "mere followers" to be recognized as lead Nothing moves until your people make it ty to communicate, physical strength, I.Q. ers. move." and many other human attributes can be The third quality is courage-courage to That is not only true of a company, but of greatly improved by using certain tech start-to build, to take the steps toward a community, state or nation. niques. achieving your goal. There are many who I submit to you, if we are to build a great Several years ago, the Washington Post will dream a dream, and maybe map out a er Oklahoma and nation, there is one thing reported on a study done by Professor Rich plan, but many do not have the courage to we must do-get the best-that goodness Heber of the University of Wisconsin who "step out" to take the action necessary to and greatness-from our citizens. had taken young children of poor and illit achieve their goal. Fear of making mistakes As an elected public official-as with any erate parents living in the city's worst slums is the most frequent factor in not imple individual, group or entity of government and produced startling results of I.Q. scores menting our life dreams. However, if you getting the best, that goodness and great increasing more than 50 percent, some of are motivated correctly in your efforts to ness cannot be accomplished by negative, them scored as high as 135. achieve a worthy goal, the greatest failure is anti and/or adversary campaigns or posi After years of giving intelligence tests, to do nothing. I know in my mission, my tions which only reduces the citizens hope studies have proven that such tests do not goal-to initiate non-traditional, new inno and visions to the lowest common denomi measure potential, but only that portion of vative and creative ways to build new eco nator. Greatness can only be achieved the potential that has been developed. I.Q. nomic and job opportunities for our citi through lifting the highest common denom and achievement can be influenced dramati zens-I will err, make mistakes and some inator which is done only by challenging cally upward by using certain techniques times fail. But the alternative is continued the hopes, dreams, ambition and vision of and with a positive "can-do" attitude. unemployment, low income, and a continu the citizen. Therefore, we must get the Besides a position attitude, there are ous out-migration of our loved ones from best-that goodness and the greatness qualities or characteristics that form "the Oklahoma, especially you, our brightest and from each of you if we are to build a greater pathway for greatness" for an individual, sharpest young college graduates. I think Oklahoma and nation for you and future state or nation to achieve their best-that building your future in Oklahoma is a generations. goodness and greatness. worthy goal and can be achieved if com If this is our goal as leaders and citizens of First and foremost is to set a worthy goal bined in the spirit that Neil Armstrong de Oklahoma and the nation-how do we ac and have the right motivation in achieving scribed-however, "We need your help." complish it? that goal. One of the most powerful moti The fourth quality is determination-the Harold Sherman in his book, "How to vating techniques for individuals such as will-or persistence to achieve your goal. Tum Failure into Success", states, "Every yourself, a state or nation is to establish a Christopher Columbus didn't get the sup worthwhile accomplishment has a price tag "challenging and measureable goal". port and backing to sail on his trip which on it: how much are you willing to pay in Astronaut Neil Armstrong was once asked discovered America on his first try. Abra hard work and sacrifice, in patience, faith about what the efforts of landing Americans ham Lincoln lost more elections than he and endurance to obtain it?" on the moon proved about the American won. Henry Ford, founder of the gas engine This is true for each of us as an individual spirit. His answer was, and I quote, automobile, was told to give up his idea and and yes, as a community, state and nation. "The Apollo program demonstrated how devote his time to something useful, and Opportunities will not come like manna really dedicated the American people can be Thomas Edison tried 10 thousand unsuc from heaven, or like the last economic oil after they have accepted a challenge." He cessful items in his attempt to create a fila boom from the ground; we must as individ went on to say, "The entire project team ment for the electric light bulb. When uals, state, and nation invest wisely in an would absolutely not stop working. Every Edison was asked if this didn't discourage "economic and intellectual infrastructure" where you looked people were working late him, his answer was that these weren't to make it happen. at night and across the weekend, usually really failures, but were merely the neces- e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 29-059 0-90-7 (Pt. 11) 14:908 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 17, 1989 sary elimination of ideas that wouldn't Thank you and God Bless you all. As a world transplant center, Pittsburgh is work. proud of the pioneering medical advances we Even some of you as graduates may have have achieved.

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