This week’s Monday Morning Message from Wm. H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina: What is the Monday Morning Message?

“What I’ve dared I’ve willed;
And what I’ve willed, I’ll do !”
—Melville

“That’s good stuff,” is the trite comment we make when we read a thrilling message like this. But what does it mean to us unless it spurs us to action? Let’s be honest. Deep truths roll off our minds all too often with just the brief comment, “That’s good.”

During this week let’s put down some DARES.

I dare to plan today’s work.
I dare to complete some unfinished plans.
I dare to make bigger plans
I dare to exercise more, to read more.
I dare to cultivate Personality, and to lift my standards.

What do you dare?

Write down some definite dares.

And may that Will behind the Dare cause you to Do far more than you would have ever accomplished without the Dare.

I dare you to read this over once more.

As children, dares from our friends got us to try things we might not have otherwise done. This wasn’t always good. (Remember the “triple dog dare” in the movie, A Christmas Story?)

A dare, though, challenges us to get past fear and inertia and do something. So give yourself some positive dares and get out there and do the things you fear, the things you have been putting off, the things that will make you more successful.

Just don’t dare yourself to stick your tongue to a frozen flagpole. ;o)