Each of us has felt down on our luck at one time or another. In fact, I have a few clients who have admitted to me that they think ‘life has passed them by’ and that it is ‘too late’ to accomplish their dreams. I stumbled across this book a few years ago, and dusted it off recently to give to a client. These real live success stories of individuals followed what would have diverted many of us from pursuing our dreams. This may be just the B12 shot you, your colleauges or team members need!
- Walter Cronkite dropped out during his junior year from the University of Texas as Austin, where he never went to class and got awful grades.
- Tom Hanks dropped out of Sacramento State University and worked as a bell hop at the Hilton Hotel for many years.
- Lance Armstrong, recovering from treatment for testicular cancer that had metastasized to his brain and lungs, was fired from the professional French bicycling team sponsored by the Cofidis insurance company.
- Winston Churchill failed the entrance exam to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst…twice.
- Patrick Dennis’s novel Auntie Mame was rejected by seventeen publishing houses.
- Albert Einstein failed the entrance exam to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
What do these folks have in common? Two things:
1) They never quit – not for good.
2) They worked very very hard (and some still do!).
It is human to be knocked down; we all have been knocked down at one time or another. And motivational speeches are fine – they can give us a great boost. Yet, reading these true stories about folks making a comeback is truly inspiring. For more great comeback stories, check out the book, Extraordinary Comebacks by John Sarkett.
So true, it even happens in the investment business. I’ve got experience after being Obaminated!