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A paean to determination

 

“Ain’t no” is a tribute to determination.  (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

According to Wikipedia, “Ain’t No…” was written by Nickolas Ashford and Valeri Simpson in 1966. Dusty Springfield wanted the song, but Ashford/Simpson held out for a Motown artist.  Their determination was rewarded when two of Motown’s brightest lights, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, turned in a smashingly good performance—great listening, even after 53 years. Tammi Terrell recorded the song alone and Gaye’s vocals were added later.  (Somehow, I wish I didn’t know that.  And I simply cannot imagine Dusty Springfield.)

There’s also a great quote from Abraham Lincoln about determination?  He said, “Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.”  (There’s no proof that he knew Marvin Gaye or Tammi Terrell. And, so far as is known, he performed by himself with no over-dubbing.)

The take away? If there’s something you really, really want, and if you are willing to pay any price, take any risk, climb the highest mountain, then you are going to get it.  Determination is the ticket!

But, there is another take away.

You should/must determine IF that which you really, really want is worth risking really, really adverse consequences.  Oh, wait, that’s a risk assessment!  Ah, yes, a completely-lacking-in-glamor everyday business tool–thinking before swimming the widest river, as it were.   That’s the real ticket.