Stress Center Peer Support

This was on the internet this morning. Thought it was a good example of the idea that the only failure is in not trying. You never know what lies ahead. And while to those of us with anxiety that seems like a bad thing, that's not usually the case.



"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 defeats." -- B.C. Forbes

Recently laid off? Struggling to find a job? Promotion seem unreachable? Just frustrated in general by your 9 to 5? Sometimes the obstacles we face seem unconquerable.

It may help you to know that some of the most successful people in history had to overcome huge hurdles before making it big.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which thriller novelist had his first book rejected twenty-eight times?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">John Grisham.</span> Grisham has been coined by the media as one of the best novel authors alive in the 21st century. However, his first manuscript, A Time To Kill, was rejected by sixteen agents and twelve publishing houses before an unknown publisher agreed to publish it for a short run. Even then it only sold a disappointing 5,000 copies.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which retail rockstar was told he "didn't have enough common sense to serve the customers?"</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Frank Winfield Woolworth, Founder of Woolworth.</span> In 1878, Frank Woolworth founded the first Woolworth's store, which later became one of the largest retail chains in the world. Even as a youth, Woolworth wanted to be a shop clerk but none of the shop keepers would hire him. When he finally did get a job at a dry goods store, his employer wouldn't let him serve any customers because he "didn't have enough common sense..."

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which NBA legend was cut from his high school varsity basketball team?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Michael Jordan.</span> According to his biography on the NBA website, "By acclimation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." However, that wasn't always so. During his sophomore year in high school Jordan was cut from the varsity basketball team because at 5 feet 11 inches, he was deemed too short to play at that level.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which ingenious inventor attempted more than 2,000 experiments before he was successful?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Thomas Edison.</span> With over 1,000 US patents to his name, Thomas Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history. However, he reportedly tried over 2,000 different experiments before he got the first incandescent light bulb to work. When a reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times he replied, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2,000 step process."

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which Academy Award-winning producer, writer and director flunked motion picture production in college?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Woody Allen.</span> Before establishing himself as one of America's greatest filmmakers, Allen was a film school failure. Apparently his teachers at New York University didn't appreciate his witty papers or his lackluster class attendance. After receiving a D at the end of his first semester, Allen was thrown out of school.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which Hollywood hottie was once told "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married"?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Marilyn Monroe.</span> Believe it or not, this iconic sex symbol was not only turned down by the Blue Book Modeling Agency, by also by MGM. Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president of Fox, was also not convinced of Monroe's potential, but finally agreed to sign her. He later said of Monroe, "Nobody discovered her, she earned her own way to stardom."

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which rock legend was fired after only one performance and told, "You ain't goin' nowhere...son"?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Elvis Presley.</span> In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Presley after one performance telling him, "You ain't goin' nowhere...son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck." Elvis went on to become the most popular singer in America.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which home-run hitting legend also broke the major league record for strikeouts?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Babe Ruth.</span> Ruth, who hit lots of home runs, broke the major league record for strikeouts as well: 1,330. In fact, Babe believed that it's smarter to make bold moves and miss sometimes than to consistently hit singles.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which hugely successful publisher failed to make his school newspaper staff?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">Malcolm Forbes.</span> The late editor-in chief of one of the most successful business publications in the world, failed to make the staff of the school newspaper when he was an undergraduate at Princeton University.

<span class="ev_code_purple">Which highly-decorated war hero was turned down twice by West Point?</span>

<span class="ev_code_green">General Douglas MacArthur.</span> Before he fought in three major wars (World War l, World War ll, Korean War) and became one of only five men ever to wise to the rank of General of the Army, MacArthur was rejected not once, but twice, by West Point. Fortunately, he was accepted on his third try and went on to march into the history books.

Rhasslariel
Thanks for the the uplifting post. Having an anxious morning and this was just what I needed to get back on track. Good luck and God Bless

This is awesome and SO important to always remember... I was just reading this about an author that I like. Her first book was turned down about 8 times and she saved each rejection letter as a way to motivate her to keep trying. She finally got published and is now on her 4th book!

This is such a great thread. We all need to remember the old adage of "if at first you don't succeed, try try again."

Thanks for posting this, Rhasslariel.

The founder of McDonald's was told by the owner of Clark Food Supply he'd never amount to anything and I believe was fired from that company. As far as I know McDonald's still won't use Clark for any of their products.

I'm glad you're all enjoying these. I'm happy to be able to help others feel better. Here's a few more.

<span class="ev_code_green">Walter Disney</span> was American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, and animator. One of the most well-known motion picture producers in the world. Disney started his own business from his home garage and his very first cartoon production went bankrupt. During his first press conference, a newspaper editor ridiculed Walt Disney because he had no good ideas in film production.The corporation, now known as The Walt Disney company, makes average revenue of US $30 billion annually.

<span class="ev_code_green">Steven Spielberg</span> is an American film director. During his childhood, Spielberg dropped out of junior high school. He was persuaded to come back and was placed in a learning-disabled class. He only lasted a month and then dropped out of school forever. He has won 3 Academy Awards an ranks among the most successful filmmakers in history. Most of all, Steven was recognized as the financially most successful motion picture director of all time.

Before she was a best-selling author, <span class="ev_code_green">J.K. Rowling</span> lost her job as a secretary because she was caught writing creative stories on her computer. She used her severance to begin the first Harry Potter book.

<span class="ev_code_green">Frank Herbert’s</span> first novel, Dune, was rejected by thirteen publishing houses.

<span class="ev_code_green">Alex Haley</span> submitted his short stories to magazines for eight years and received nothing but rejection letters.

<span class="ev_code_green">Rod Serling</span> (Twilight Zone) His first forty freelance scripts for radio dramas were all rejected.

There's a book I saw that I want to get that looks good. Its called Famous Failures
By Joey Green. " In Famous Failures by Joey Green (Lunatic Press, $10.95), you’ll discover hundreds of hot shots who got rejected, flunked out, worked lousy jobs, goofed up, or did time in jail before achieving phenomenal success." "Famous Failures by Joey Green is the ultimate celebration of failure . . . as a necessary stepping-stone to success."

Great thread. Don't forget Abraham Lincoln. I keep running across his story alot.
Note: People once criticised a short speech he made at a place called Gettyburg.

Yes, Lincoln was another.

Lost job in 1832
Defeated for state legislature in 1832
Failed in business in 1833
Elected to state legislature in 1834
Sweetheart died in 1835
Had nervous breakdown in 1836
Defeated for Speaker in 1838
Defeated for nomination for Congress in 1843
Elected to Congress in 1846
Lost renomination in 1848
Rejected for land officer in 1849
Defeated for U.S. Senate in 1854
Defeated for nomination for Vice President in 1856
Again defeated for U.S. Senate in 1858
<span class="ev_code_green">Elected President in 1860</span>

This is a man many consider to be the greatest president of all and who attended school less than 12 months in his entire life!