They say path to success is paved with many failures. Those who can look past their failures, get up and dust themselves off and move forward are the ones who can taste success. If you do not believe this, all you need to do is look at these super-successful people and the failures they had to face before they achieved their success.
They say path to success is paved with many failures. Those who can look past their failures, get up and dust themselves off and move forward are the ones who can taste success. If you do not believe this, all you need to do is look at these super-successful people and the failures they had to face before they achieved their success.
Right from industrialists, to scientists to actors, all the most famous personalities that we look up to have to go through their share of tears, miseries and failures. What makes them stand out is the fact that they never gave up. In fact they used their rejection and failure as a stepping stone.
1. Albert Einstein: He was mute till he turned 4 and did not show any ability to read till he turned 7. He went on to become a physicist of renown with a Nobel Prize. For a man who was thought to be mentally deficient by parents and teachers, his name today is spoken with the utmost reverence.
2. Akio Morita: This name may seem obscure to you but you surely know Sony. Starting with a rice cooker that never cooked but burnt rice, this man went to establish a company like Sony. He never let failure daunt him and along with his partners carved a name for his company that is synonymous with quality products
3. Bill Gates: A college dropout who started his first business which failed, Gates is a shining example of what persistence can do for you. He later on went to create a global empire that is today known as Microsoft.
4. Oprah Winfrey: The agony aunt of the world, a woman who stops at discussing nothing no matter how controversial, a woman whose name is synonymous with her show and one of the wealthiest women, Oprah never had it easy. An abysmal childhood followed by career setbacks, she was told that she did not have what it takes to be on television
5. Vincent Van Gogh: A man who made art his life and cut off his ear in frustration, Van Gogh never got any acclaim as an artist as long as he lived. The only painting he sold was to a friend and that too for a pittance. The paintings he starved to finish are now worth millions
6. Thomas Edison: The man credited with bringing light to our lives with his invention of the light bulb had to himself face the darkness and despair of numerous failures. His teachers had deemed him incapable of learning as he was growing up.
7. Marilyn Monroe: Her beauty and sex appeal are talking about even now. Though her career was cut short by her tragic death at a young age, Marilyn Monroe is considered a star. It is tough to believe that this beautiful woman who melded innocence with sensuality so easily was once rejected and told to pick a career as a secretary.
8. Isaac Newton: His mathematical genius cannot be denied, but in his early life, Newton was considered an utter failure due to his inability to manage and run the family farm. After his failure at farming he was sent to Cambridge where he found his true calling.
9. Charles Darwin: Accused of being lazy and inept, Darwin’s parents would often berate him for not having a purpose in life. Now the wealth of knowledge which is our legacy from Darwin is held in the highest regard.
10. Walt Disney: The word Disney is enough to bring delight to a child’s face. His empire stands today as the best standard for fun and fantasy. Considering all this it is hard to be believe that he was once told by newspaper editor whom he approached with his ideas that he lacked imagination. This to a man who made a mouse and duck world famous! Of course the path to his success was paved with various trials and tribulations.
11. Charlie Chaplin: Imagine Charlie Chaplin being told that his comedy as nonsense and it would not sell. But that is what happened to Charlie Chaplin when he initially approached Hollywood studio chiefs.
12. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mozart a child prodigy who started composing his music at the tender age of 5 was once dismissed from his position as a court musician in Salzberg. He faced his failure and went on to compose 600 pieces of music that is even today held in high esteem.
13. Soichiro Honda: Honda, the name that is synonymous with quality automobiles was founded on a base of failures. In fact Honda was rejected by Toyota Motor Corporation for a job after interviewing for a job as an engineer, leaving him unemployed for a while. He designed scooters which turned into a business with encouragement from his neighbors
14. Ray Kroc: The founder of the international fast food chain, which is the hallmark of tasty food at affordable prices failed in 50 businesses before he started McDonalds. Ray Kroc wanted to build a restaurant that was known for consistent quality food no matter where the location.
15. Stephen King: An author whose name is considered synonymous with horror fiction had to go through numerous failures. His first novel “Carrie” was rejected 30 times! In despair he decided to give up on his writing career. It was his wife who picked up the manuscript from the trash and persuaded him to try again. As you are aware “Carrie” was later made into a movie
What this article wants to point out is that just imagine, if any of these people had just given up on facing failure the first time. We can all agree that it would have been a major loss to the human race. Our life has been enriched by the contributions these people have bestowed on us. While not every one of us can hope to reach the amazing heights these people have, we can definitely leave our mark on the lives of the people around us, simply by never bowing down to failure.
