Les Brown’s quote, “If you can look up, you can get up,” is a timeless reminder that no matter how tough life gets, as long as you still have hope and vision, you can rise from the depths of despair. His message is simple yet profound: setbacks are not the end of the story unless you allow them to be. By keeping your focus upward—on possibilities, faith, and perseverance—you position yourself to rise again, stronger and wiser.

Les Brown embodies this philosophy through his own incredible journey. Born into poverty and labeled “educable mentally retarded” in school, he could have easily succumbed to those limiting beliefs. Instead, he challenged them. One pivotal moment in his life came when he was struggling to break into the world of radio broadcasting. After being turned down multiple times for a job, he didn’t give up. He kept showing up at the radio station, doing odd jobs, and staying visible.

His big break came unexpectedly when the station’s DJ called in sick, and Les was asked to fill in. He seized the opportunity with enthusiasm, proving his talent and launching his career in broadcasting. This moment wasn’t just luck—it was a culmination of persistence and readiness, exemplifying the “look up, get up” mindset.

Les teaches us that life’s challenges are not permanent roadblocks but opportunities to prove our resilience. By maintaining hope and taking consistent action, we can all get back up, no matter how far we’ve fallen.

As Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) says,

“Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.”

Let’s take a page from Les Brown’s playbook and keep looking up—because that’s how we find the strength to get up.