Not everything goes as originally planned . . .

No one likes to fail and it can get frustrating repeatably encountering obstacles and managing roadblocks. When you encounter these do you feel dejected or do you become even more motivated to succeed?

Below are some snippets of failures:

Albert Einstein
His teachers said: “he wouldn’t amount to much”.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Was told by his music teacher that “as a composer, he is hopeless“.

Walt Disney
Was fired from a newspaper for his lack of imagination.

The Beatles
In 1962 they were told they “had no future in show business” and that “groups with guitars are on the way out”.

Dr. Seuss
His initial manuscript was rejected 28 times prior to being accepted by Random House/Vanguard Press. 

Oprah Winfrey
After seven and a half months in her first job as a TV anchor she was fired and told she was “unfit for television news”.

Michael Jordan
Was cut from his high school team and shares “I have missed more than 9,000 shots, lost almost 300 games, and missed game winning shots. And that is why I succeeded”.

Stephen King
Submitted his bestselling novel Carrie 31 times before it was accepted and published.

Steven Spielberg
Was initially rejected from film school and was turned down for directing “Jaws” by several studios before it became a blockbuster.

Do you have plans in place that improve your odds for achieving success after experiencing a failure? Perhaps they include:

• Identifying why the failure occurred?
• Assessing what could be done differently?
• Considering who could provide meaningful feedback for improvement opportunities?
• Determining if those involved were the best fit?

The starting point is to face the failures head on and analyze what happened and why and clearly define your strategies and the direction needed to obtain the results you desire. In the words of Napoleon Hill: Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. Wishing you many successes!