The Bold Life, an online blog, declares that “the path to success is difficult. Pursuing your dreams takes hard work. Your ideas get rejected. People turn you down. You make mistakes. You feel alone and often defeated. You face speed bumps, obstacles and detours that seem insurmountable. You feel discouraged, disappointed and downtrodden.
There is one thing that will guide you through long days and difficult nights. It’s perseverance.
Perseverance is not a personality trait. It’s a choice to persist, dig deep and take action when it feels like the world is working against you. It’s the willingness to overcome exhaustion, resistance and unpleasant circumstances. It's the courage to work hard, stick-to-it and press on no matter what.”
Bonnie and Roger Neugebauer are two people who personify the word “persistence.” As the founders of both Exchange magazine and the World Forum on Early Care and Education, they have certainly faced many challenges requiring a great deal of persistence. In the 250th edition of Exchange (the November/December 2019 issue), the current publisher, Nancy Rosenow, interviewed the Neugebauers and asked them to reflect on their remarkable journey. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
"'I know it’s not easy to publish a magazine for so many years.' I said. 'Tell me about what kept you going in the tough times.'
Roger and Bonnie’s responses contain much wisdom for any of us facing a challenge. They exemplify committed entrepreneurs who refuse to give up on an important idea just because the inevitable bumps in the road come along.
'We were motivated by connecting and making visible the great work of all those exemplary leaders,' Roger explained. The name is Exchange because our goal was always to help people connect and share with each other.' 'We never set ourselves up as the experts,' Bonnie added. 'We have only ever been connectors, relationship-builders. We have always seen ourselves as part of the profession; that belonging has nurtured us and kept us accountable.'"
Source: “11 Must Have Tips for Perseverance and Success,” theboldlife.com, July 29, 2013
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Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsSan Diego Reggio Roundtable
San Diego, CA, United States
Congratulations to Both Roger and Bonnie!
Your magazine and the Resources you have provided over these 250 issues have been invaluable for me as first a director; as an instructor of Early Childhood Best Practices; as a consultant and volunteer in the San Diego Community; and now as a Grandmother. Reading Exchange Everyday is a regular part of my morning routine and I often share it with others.
Thank you!
Becky Candra
Sebastopol, CA, United States
Roger and Bonnie have done so much for this profession through their work. As a program director, Exchange was more than a publication. The information was always relevant and often cutting edge for my job but it also brought the reassurance that I was not alone in dealing with the challenges. I learned to bring humor to my work through Roger's writings. I learned to think deeply and reflectively about children and families through Bonnie's writings. I feel they have been mentors to many of us in this profession. I am so glad that they perservered!
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