Famous Failures

Published by Mike Michalowicz (Google+)

To succeed as an entrepreneur there is one thing you are going to have to master... never quit, especially when you fail. It's the great irony of success... it requires countless failures. Don't believe me? Watch this video, and check out the list of "famous failures" I have prepared for you. If you work hard enough, and if you never stop... perhaps you will be the next famous failure on this list:

Famous Failure 1: Hillary Clinton failed the D.C. bar exam in the 1970's yet went on to contend for the President of the United States.

Famous Failure 2: Isaac Newton was the greatest mind of his generation, often labeled a genius. Yet he failed throughout grade school, to the utter frustration of his teachers.

Famous Failure 3: JK Rowling lived on welfare for years. A failing author, she went on to write the Harry Potter series, and today has an estimated worth over $1B. Among many recent notable successes, she performed Harvard's commencement speech.

Famous Failure 4: Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most epic composers of classical music. Yet at the early stages of his career, his music instructor labeled him "as a composer, he is hopeless". Of course, we all know that he also lost his hearing, yet went on to make the world's most famous music!

Famous Failure 5: Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade and now he is regarded as one of the most important leaders in British and world history.

Famous Failure 6: Michael Jordon is, well, Michael Jordon. He still is one of the most recognized name in sports, even though he retired from basketball years ago. Yet as a high school player, he was cut from his team because of his "lack of skill".

Famous Failure 7: Walter Disney is the entrepreneur behind the Disney conglomerate, a company generating over $30B annually. Starting his first cartoon production out of his garage he quickly went bankrupt. And ultimately was rejected by over 300 banks when he went to seek funding for his theme park.

Famous Failure 8: Henry Ford's first two automobile companies failed.

The Next Famous Failure: Is it going to be you? Are you going to give up at your next failure... or are you going to be inspired forward?

Compiled by Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur

Category: Big Success Stories, The Kick In The Ass
Tags: .
  • http://www.sayebusiness.nl Stan Lenssen

    Quite a list and what a coincidence. I just wrote a post about this subject. The two failures of Henry Ford are a hook in there to show my audience that failure is the learning path to success.

    • http://www.ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com Mike Michalowicz

      @Stan – great minds think alike!

  • http://ubermarketing.wordpress.com Akash Sharma

    Thanks for sharing the list Mike,Before this I had just read about Mr.Abraham Lincoln’s failures on a blog and that was inspiring but this is like awesome, Michael Jordan, The Beatles it means that people from every walk of life fail but the important part is to fight till the last breath.

  • http://www.yourbrandplan.com david sandusky

    Fail fast, lead.

  • http://www.identitymagazine.net Susan Vernicek

    Thanks for sharing this on the same day I become a full time Business Owner/Entrepreneur. No more part time graphics job! I am ready for the success!

    • http://www.ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com Mike Michalowicz

      Congrats on going “all in.” While dangerous in poker, it is the surest way to success for a business.

  • http://mikeblackstone.com Mike Blackstone

    Boy Mike, Did I need that inspiration RIGHT NOW.
    Thanks –Mike Blackstone