Fail Your Way To The Top

Have you had a challenging day or week? Feel a little tired or discouraged with a current situation? Ready to throw in the towel and quit something?

Don't worry. It's very normal to go through times of feeling that something in life stinks and all there is to see and feel is the current mess.

Here is something neat to ponder during those times, though. When doing battle with discouraged feelings, take a look at this report and reflect on this man's record of failure. It is a testament to how humans can learn and grow and win despite the losses and defeats.

Failed in business-------------------------------------1831

Defeated for legislature------------------------------1832

Failed in business again----------------------------1833

Elected to legislature---------------------------------1834

Sweetheart died----------------------------------------1835

Nervous breakdown------------------------------------1836

Defeated for speaker----------------------------------1838

Defeated for land officer------------------------------1843

Defeated for congress--------------------------------1843

Elected to congress-----------------------------------1846

Defeated for re-election-------------------------------1848

Defeated for senate------------------------------------1855

Defeated for vice president--------------------------1856

Defeated for senate------------------------------------1858

Elected President--------------------------------------1860

Who was he?

He was a simple, uneducated, country boy who refused to allow his uncongenial circumstances stop him. He refused to be a victim. He refused to accept failure. He refused to listen to people who told him he was crazy. He refused to stay down when he felt like nothing was going his way.

Simply put, he picked himself up no matter what and kept on going after his dream. He educated himself and did whatever it took to keep moving in the direction of his passions.

Who was he? Abraham Lincoln.

If you reflect back on your life, you can find patterns of the times you grew the most. Many of those times were probably a result of some kind of previous 'failure,' maybe even a series of them.

Remember: children don't fail when they are learning to walk. They fall down over and over again. It is the falling that teaches them and strengthens them.

Each failure is a learning experience. And the faster people pick themselves up, reflect on the past occurrence and go again, the faster they can achieve their goals and dreams.

So with this in mind, choose the one thing that may not be going exactly as you wish right now and do one thing to move you closer to achieving the result you want. And remember, life is about learning and growing.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to: John@TheStreetKid.com

About The Author

John Assaraf, aka The Street Kid: New York Times & Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, Trainer & Entrepreneur

http://www.TheStreetKid.com

---

Trusting Yourself and Others

How come, as women, we always second-guess ourselves? Are we... Read More

A Prison Cell?

Do you have a goal? A focus in life? Have... Read More

Ask the Angels - Get Specific !

There are Angels for everything and they are just waiting... Read More

About Self Love

1. How do I love myself?2. How can I feel... Read More

Ways To Beat The Blues

1. Sit back and enjoy (or at least tolerate) the... Read More

The Dead

Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 9,... Read More

The Challenge To Succeed

So much has been written about success that one often... Read More

Bus Driver By Day, Online Business Success By Night

Janine Wachowski, a long-time resident of South Elgin, Illinois, drives... Read More

Exceptions To The Rule

Yesterday I turned 48, and she just turned 21. Uh-oh,... Read More

Wisdom of the Worlds Proverbs

You don't have to excavate diamond mines or oil fields... Read More

4 Abundant Ways To Add FIRE To Your Passion!

How many times have you found yourself dreaming you were... Read More

Four Words that Make Life Worthwhile

Over the years as I've sought out ideas, principles and... Read More

Arranging Stepping-Stones

The greatest achievements were obtained by those who took one... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt...Part 3

Continued....When I turned 18 years old, I met a new... Read More

Planning for the Unexpected

Unfortunately, most people fail to plan until it is too... Read More

Your Support Network

Quick. Who's in your support network? Huh? What's a support... Read More

Guard Your Heart

It was 1:30 A.M. on Friday, December 6, 1991. Patrolman... Read More

The Bouncer (Turning Defeat into Victory)

I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep... Read More

Charge Your Imagination (2)

As year 2004 winds up and professionals and corporate bodies... Read More

Make Life Work: Repair the Relationship with Yourself

What areas of your life are working well? Career? Finances?Relationships?... Read More

How I Get Joy as a Value

*In the last couple of months, I have been fortunate... Read More

Safety ? Are You OK?

Safety is an interesting concept. When we think of safety... Read More

Dont Die With Your Dreams Still Inside You

I write and talk a lot about dreams. Primarily because... Read More

Repeat Offender

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 8,... Read More

A Pickup Line

Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 11,... Read More

Labor That Works Miracles

(excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed series)Two thousand years ago... Read More

Motivational Posters - A Source Of Inspiration?

What Inspires You? What motivates you to get up in... Read More

The Climbs In Our Lives

I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging,... Read More

What Does it Take to Make Life Better?

What does it take for you to pay attention?You've probably... Read More

The Theft of Fire

"Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" (By fire is nature renewed whole.)... Read More

The Shattered Identity

I. ExpositionIn the movie "Shattered" (1991), Dan Merrick survives an... Read More

Giving Can Overcome Language Differences

I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It... Read More

Your True Talent Will Set You Free

When you get home from work, do you feel enriched,... Read More