To achieve success it can be important to keep going even if no one seems to be appreciating or even noticing what you are doing. Some people are not appreciated until after they have passed on into the next life. Hopefully, it won't take that long for the rest of us.

"A Night To Remember" is a 1958 film which tells the story of the sinking of the Titanic in a powerful and moving way. It stars Kenneth More as the dedicated officer who does his duty in putting women and children only into the life boats as the Titanic starts to sink and then manages to save a group of men who were amongst the last survivors.

As the boat is sinking, a legendary act of heroism takes place. The musicians keep playing on deck rather than taking care of their own survival.

One of them says "What's the use? No one is listening." Another comments "Well, no one is listening when we play at meals."

Even the Beatles must have thought no one was listening. In 1962, four years after the Titanic film was made, Decca recording turned them down:

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."

Obviously in both stories someone was listening. Both the musicians on the Titanic and the Beatles became legends. Many people go through times when they feel no one is listening and they are wasting their time. However, if they keep going, they may just become legends too.

Any kind of performance usually involves the homework and the boring practice sessions when no one is watching or listening.

Those who can keep motivated during these practice sessions will usually get their reward when the audience finally arrive and they put in an astonishing performance.

As the film "A Night To Remember" nears its end, the lead violinist tells the musicians:

"It's the end, boys, we've done our duty. We can go now."

The musicians start to leave but the lead violinist starts playing on his own: "Nearer my God to thee."

The others rejoin him and one of them starts singing the hymn. The sound reaches the survivors in the life boats.

Whether things happened the way the film shows does not really matter.The lesson is the same. Keep taking action; keep praying or visualizing a great future.

The universe is quite probably taking note of your efforts and thoughts and will respond in its own good time. What you are doing will make some kind of a difference. Someone is noticing. Someone is listening.

John Watson

John Watson was born in Shanghai at the start of World War II on Dec 31st 1939

His father, a British civil engineer, was given the choice of working in the mines of Northern China for the occupying forces or going to a concentration camp. He refused to work for the invading forces.

As a result the whole family were imprisoned in a concentration camp in the middle of China in 1942. Eric Liddell (featured in the Chariots of Fire) the Scottish runner and missionary was imprisoned in the same camp.

In 1945 the family was rescued by American troops who were parachuted in. John's most treasured possession from this time is a plane made of bullets given him by one of the US soldiers. The tail parts have been lost but most of it remains. He also remembers being given a bottle of coca cola by one of the US troops and has been an addict ever since!

They moved to England and then, when John's father died, to the Isle of Man.

John went to school in the Isle of Man and then taught Physical Education at a prep school in Hertfordshire. Around this time he had three mystical experiences of contact with God.

He then studied English Literature at Cambridge University and later became an English teacher in South East London but, after 5 years, he did a diploma in Religious Studies and began teaching about religion full time.

After 33 years teaching in three London Comprehensive schools, John retired from teaching. He received several awards and commendations for teaching both religious studies and the martial arts. He still teaches martial arts after beginning training in karate at the age of 37. The style he now teaches is Choikwangdo, a brilliant self-defence and health oriented style founded by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi in 1987.

In his retirement he began studying internet marketing and continued his study of the psychology of achievement and self development. This has always been a key interest.

John plans on writing reports and books on both teaching and on achievement in general. He feels that many schools let their students down by not teaching enough about how to study (by using mind maps for example) and about how to set goals and how to start saving money for their early retirement!

John's main aim is to make the most of his own potential and to help others make the most of their's. He also wishes to pass on whatever he knows of the meaning of life and to discover more and share more about the truths behind the universe.