Coco Chanel began her life in abject poverty, being raised in an orphanage. She taught herself how to sew and went on to become the first woman fashion designer, changing the style of women’s clothes from Victorian to casual in the process. Her perseverance in overcoming enormous odds resulted in her building a fashion empire. Today, some eighty years later, the Chanel brand remains one of the benchmarks of quality and style. Thomas Edison tried almost ten thousand times before he succeeded in creating the electric light.
The original business plan for what was to become Federal Express was given a failing grade on Fred Smith’s college exam. And in their early days, the company was struggling so much that their employees cashed their paychecks at retail stores rather than at banks. This meant it would take longer for the money to clear, thereby giving FedEx more time to cover their payroll. Sylvester Stallone was turned down a thousand times by agents and was down to his last $600 before he found a company that would produce Rocky. The rest is history!
Don’t quit before the miracle happens!
To truly succeed requires total commitment to your goal. Too many people make the mistake of quitting when they’re just short of success. Keep going, no matter what. If you really believe in what you are doing, give it all you’ve got, and don’t give up. You will succeed.
There is actually no such thing as failure. Every action produces an outcome. It may not always be the outcome you are looking for, but it is an outcome nonetheless. If you monitor the results of your actions and keep correcting what is not working, you will eventually produce the outcome you are looking for.
Be persistent. Ray Kroc, the late founder of McDonald’s, put it best when he said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful [people] with great talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence, determination, and love are omnipotent.”
Handbook to a Happier Life—A Simple Guide to Creating the Life You’ve Always Wanted – Jim Donovan
Reyflection & Inspiration 