“It’s has been often said that “our best teacher is our last mistake.” In other words, we learn through failed life experiences.”
Believe it or not, some of the most influential people initially failed.
For example,
- Michael Jordan – Missed more than 9,000 shots over 3,000 games. 26 times he was trusted to the game winning shot and missed. M.J. was kicked off the high school basketball team, he went home locked himself in his closet and cried. Jordan is considered the greatest professional basketball player of all time. He was elected to the basketball hall of fame, won countless awards including 5 MVP awards, is a 6 time NBA Champion and 4 time NBA All-Star. He was just recognized as the first billionaire in sports history.
2.Thomas Edison – He was told, “He was too stupid to learn anything, and that he should go into a field where he would succeed by the virtue of his pleasant personality.” Edison failed at making the light bulb 10,000 times before succeeding. He invented countless other marvels that we take for granted today.
- Walt Disney – Was fired from a newspaper for “lacking originality and having no creative ideas of his own.” Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The Walt Disney Corporation today has annual revenues of over 35 billion dollars. He received 59 Academy award nominations, 22 of which he won, and won 26 Oscars.
- Henry Ford – He failed and went broke five times before successfully creating the first Model T car. The Model T revolutionized the automobile and transportation industries forever. Ford was a prolific inventor and was awarded 161 US patents. He also is responsible for Fordism – that is the mass production of a large number of inexpensive automobiles using an assembly line style of production, coupled with higher than average wages and benefits for the workers.
- Albert Einstein – His parents and teachers where worried he was mentally challenged because he didn’t speak until he was 4 and didn’t read until the age of 7. Einstein was described as “Mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift in foolish dreams.” It was said “He won’t go very far in life.” He is now known as the father of theoretical physics, and is considered to be one of the most influential people in history. He is best known for discovering the theory of relativity and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
6.Steven Spielberg – Rejected by the film school 3 times, Steven Spielberg dropped out of high school and was “Talked into “coming back as a part of a disabled learning class.” He lasted a month, and his career started as a un-paid, seven-day-a-week editing intern. Spielberg has won two academy awards for best director, and three of his films have achieved box office records. Each becoming the highest grossing film at the time.
- Steve Jobs – At 30 years old he was left devastated and depressed after being ceremoniously removed from the company he started. He moved on and founded Apple Inc, and was the Co-founder of Pixar animation studios. His companies are know.as leading innovators of their respected industries, both of which have cult like followings.
- Sylvester Stallone – Had to sell his dog for $50 in order to survive and it broke his heart. His wife left him. After watching an Ali and Weppner fight he came up with story of Rocky and spent 24 straight hours writing it. Stallone was denied more than 2,000 times when attempting to sell the rights to Rocky. He was finally offered $100,000 for the screenplay as long as he wouldn’t play the part of Rocky, he refused the offer. He was broke and nearly homeless in a New York Winter when he settled for $25,000 and the main role as the Italian Stallion. He took the money, waited in front of the store where he sold his dog for three days, he eventually bought the dog back for $15,000. He has become, and still is one of the most successful film stars in United States history
Hard to believe right? Chances are, if it weren’t for their failures, they would’ve never have become the most iconic figures at their professions.
Personally, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve failed in my life. Growing up I couldn’t even form a sentence (apologies for my grammatical errors sometimes) and had a severe learning disability. My resource teacher and advisor told me that I wouldn’t get accepted into the college I wanted. What did I do? I applied and was accepted into the smaller campus, but worked my way up and transfer to the main campus (sorry have to say go Penn State!!).
Within 4 years I received my degree. I also have been fired from jobs, failed tests, cut from sports. Failing is an awful feeling and it’s the greatest route to discouragement. But it was also a great blessing. From all this came something incredibility great. The truth is failure is GREAT. If it weren’t for failure I never would have pursued a dream and started my own business, if it were for failure I never would have pursued a dream in the fitness industry. If weren’t for failure I never would have been the person I am today. After failing so many times in my life I gained valuable life lesson and discovered my purpose.
So my message to you is always remember that your character isn’t entirely determined by your successful achievements, but rather your ability to overcome adversity. Next time you fail at something consider that failure as an opportunity to open a new chapter. Yes, some will flee to safety and seek security. However, you won’t, you will get right back up and carefully think out the experience and vow not to repeat it, thus creating an intellectual advantage over everyone and reaching your dreams!