You might want to read this, it may just make you think…
Babe Ruth spent his childhood years in an orphanage and then struck out 1,330 times on his way to 714 home runs (and baseball immortality.) As Wayne Gretsky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” If the Babe hadn’t struck out 1,330 times, we wouldn’t remember him as the great player he was.
In 1954, Elvis Presley was fired from the Grand Ole Opry after only one performance and told by the manager, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. Better get y’all job back drivin’ a truck.” Do you know that manager’s name? Me neither. But we sure remember Elvis.
Oprah Winfrey was fired from her reporter’s job and told, “You’re not fit for TV.” Imagine if Oprah had taken those word to heart – we never would have heard of her, and she wouldn’t be one of the most well-known, respected and richest ladies in the world.
In 1933, Walter Cronkite failed an audition in local radio and was told by the radio manager that he would never make it as a radio announcer. Walter could have gone home defeated, but instead he blew off those words and became one of America’s most recognizable and trusted voices.
Winston Churchill one of the greatest leaders in the UK was thought of as pretty useless in his younger days. Look at how he led us to victory in the second world war..
A bit nearer to home, I was told when I was 16 in a school careers workshop that I didn’t have what it takes to be a registered nurse, I was much better suited to shop work. I was furious and decided to prove them wrong. 40 years later I can honestly say I’ve had a pretty illustrious career in the NHS. Not famous though 🙂
So what about you? Has someone told you you can’t make it? Have you suffered more than a few defeats along the way? If so, use those things as your stepping stones to greatness, because no one can take away your future, your success and your prosperity but you.
Don’t listen to those naysayers because they will suck your soul from your body..
Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.
-Dale Carnegie
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.
– Abraham Lincoln
