“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.” - Robert T. Kiyosaki
Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times – but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the United States history.
Here is a sketch of Lincoln’s road to the White House:
• 1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
• 1818 His mother died.
• 1831 Failed in business.
• 1832 Ran for state legislature – lost.
• 1832 Also lost his job – wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
• 1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this
debt.
• 1834 Ran for state legislature again – won.
• 1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
• 1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
• 1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.
• 1840 Sought to become elector – defeated.
• 1843 Ran for Congress – lost.
• 1846 Ran for Congress again – this time he won – went to Washington and did a good job.
• 1848 Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.
• 1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state – rejected.
• 1854 Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.
• 1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – get less than 100 votes.
• 1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again – again he lost.
• 1860 Elected president of the United States
Lincoln’s life could demonstrate that the only time you don’t fail is the last time you try something and it works. He proves to us with his life that failure is simply an opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. We can fail forward toward success. History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heart-breaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeat. Elmer Clark wrote “Great people are created by great mistakes that are learned from, not from great successes that are gloated upon”.
Most of us will stumble and fall in life. Doors will get slammed in our faces, and we
might make some bad decisions. But imagine if Lincoln had given up the first time he failed or the third time, am sure he would never had become one of the greatest presidents in the United States history.
Thomas Edison said “Failure doesn't mean that we are off the track to success. It merely forces us to take a detour to success”. The moment you're ready to quit is usually the moment right before the miracle happens. So never give up on those beautiful dreams of yours, you are closer to your miracle, your breakthrough and achieving your goals more than you know.
No comments:
Post a Comment