This Violinist Fine-Tuned His Focus To Master Music; Follow Your Passion: Isaac Stern's resolve, preparation and drive made him one of the 20th century's finest musicians.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Publication: Investor's Business Daily

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Byline: CURT SCHLEIER

Violinist Isaac Stern was a child prodigy. Then he made his New York City debut at age 17 in 1937 at Town Hall. There, his reception was less than enthusiastic. In fact, the criticism was harsh.

As Stern wrote in his autobiography, "My First 79 Years," "The reviews, I thought, were disastrous."

Overwhelmed, he got on a double-decker bus and rode up and down the streets for hours, thinking.

Then he decided to stop brooding. He wouldn't cave in to the critics.

"Call it self-confidence, call it self-assurance, call it arrogance, but I told myself I'm not going to let this stop me. I'm going on," Stern said in a 1999 IBD interview at his Manhattan apartment.

"That came from inside me," he...

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