The sayings, advice and philosophy of William J. Rothwell

One of the most refreshing, dynamic and eternally youthful optimists this writer has ever encountered is the former director of alumni affairs at the University of New Hampshire, Dr. William J. Rothwell.

Prior to graduation, he was a noted hockey player, and since UNH, he has served as head of Penn State’s alumni and as vice president for development at the University of Louisville, where he oversaw the raising of close to $1 billion. Now over 80, Bill Rothwell still exhibits enough energy and enthusiasm to make other people feel exhausted.

Recently, while visiting New Hampshire for the memorial service of his friend David Hagerman, another noted educator, Rothwell gave me his collection of “Rothwellisms: A Small Guide to Happiness — A Philosophy for Life.” With his permission, a sample of the best are provided here, to encourage readers to think positively:

• “Everything is possible. The impossible just takes a little bit longer.”

• “Anyone, everyone, can escape the prison of their birth.”

• “Think in superlatives. Act in superlatives.”

• “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t — you’re right.”

• “It’s easier to go downhill rather than uphill, but the view is from the top.”

• “Every Nobel Prize-winning concept started with a moment. A moment became an idea. An idea became a dream. A dream became a vision. A vision became a passion. The passion became an obsession. The passion and obsession lead to action. The action leads to reality and the desired result. Dreams without action are nothing but nightmares.”

• “The greatest joy you can have is doing something for someone that they can’t do for themselves. Be sure to try to make tomorrow a little better than today … for someone.”

• “Every day you have a choice to be happy or sad. Say to yourself, ‘Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will.’ And then you’ll be happy.”

• “Don’t overthink things. Over-analysis creates paralysis, and nothing will ever happen.”

• “Don’t procrastinate. Things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first.”

• “If you’re always early, you’re never late.”

• “If you like your job, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

• “You come into the world naked, you go out of the world dead. The only thing you have of value in between is your integrity. Guard it.”

• “You can never hurt anyone’s feelings by saying ‘thank you” too many times.”

• “Opportunities are seldom labeled.”

• “A pessimist sees a problem in every opportunity. An optimist sees an opportunity in every problem.”

• “God so loved the world that he didn’t send a committee.”

• “Leadership is action, not position.”

• “Excellence is an art of inches … thousands of little things done better add up to an unassailable advantage.”

• “True humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”

• “He who tries can fail. He who doesn’t try already has failed.”

• “Money is only a tool to help get done what should be done. It’s only money. It can’t love you, hug you or kiss you.”

• “Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself.”

• “Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have.”

• “When you think about quitting, think about why you started.”

• “Every time I work a 15-hour day, I get lucky.”

• “Above all, we want a reputation of doing the little things well … and the big things will follow.”

• “Positive is more effective than negative!

Proactive is more effective than reactive! First is more effective than second! Love and passion are more effective than knowledge! Sincerity is more effective than flash!

Vision is more effective than need!”

• “Every great and commanding event in the annals of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it. And, I hope that was the case when you were created!” Clearly, Bill Rothwell’s life is worth watching, and his achievements for the institutions he has served, and his leadership in many charitable efforts in which he has been engaged since his “retirement” a number of years ago, have reflected his enthusiasm, his optimism, his faith and his ability to overcome the “prison of his birth.”

Before rejecting any of the Rothwell-isms as bromides or trite, read them again.

Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.