4 Entrepreneurs Who Did So
We hear the stories of how an entrepreneur created some miraculous item and became a millionaire seemingly overnight. What we usually will not hear is the multiple failures… The stress and working hours upon hours, only to discover that their method and idea failed.
These entrepreneurs hit the limelight because they failed their way to success. They didn’t give up; they may have changed direction, but these entrepreneurs never quit.
We have heard about their success, but to enlighten you to the road they traveled to get that success, I am going to share some of the failing along the path.
Let this inspire you when you may think of giving up. Entrepreneurs don’t quit, they keep striving forward.
#1: Walt Disney
“I think it’s important to have a good hard failure when you’re young. I learned a lot out of that. Because it makes you kind of aware of what can happen to you. Because of it I’ve never had any fear in my whole life when we’ve been near collapse and all of that. I’ve never been afraid. I’ve never had the feeling I couldn’t walk out and get a job doing something.” Walt Disney
The great Mr. Disney failed several times before he attained success.
- A newspaper fired young Walt saying he was not creative.
- Walt’s first animation company started with a bang, but quickly died when a partner went bankrupt. The name of Walt’s first animation company was Laugh-O-Gram Films.
- Walt was broke and somehow made it to Hollywood where he was criticized often.
With determination, Walt Disney created films that caught the public’s hearts and success was had.
#2: George Steinbrenner
“I haven’t always done a good job, and I haven’t always been successful – but I know that I have tried.” George Steinbrenner
This is the man who has built a dynasty with the New York Yankees professional baseball team.
But no one talks about another team George owned… The Cleveland Pipers.
The Cleveland Pipers were a professional basketball team in the early 1960’s. George mismanaged the Pipers’ budget and the entire franchise went bankrupt.
#3: Thomas Edison
“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this – you haven’t.” Thomas Edison
The inventor of the light bulb managed through many failures. He had difficulty in school and teachers claimed he was stupid and unmanageable.
He was also fired from several jobs because he supposedly was not productive enough.
The count is probably outrageous on how many failed attempts he had until that light bulb actually worked.
#4: Peter Thiel
“One of my first investments was $100,000 in a Web-based calendar startup – and I lost every dollar.” Peter Thiel
He is the man and the money behind Paypal and he also invested in Facebook, Peter is revered as an investing genius.
But few people know about a failed investment trip Peter made. Clarium Capital was a hedge fund Peter was knee-deep in and it lost 90% of its assets in bad investments.
That didn’t stop Peter though.
Fail, Learn and Grow
Failed lessons are not something entrepreneurs usually like discussing. It is similar to bringing up death at a family gathering.
But there are lessons to be learned from failure. It is not something we like, but it is reality.
To succeed you will fail! That is a fact and I highly doubt you will find any successful entrepreneur who has not failed along the path.
There are 2 types of people:
- Those who failed and quit.
- Those who failed and picked up the pieces, changed directions and moved forward.
Wait!
There is one other type… The person who doesn’t even try because they are afraid to fail.
Fail Up!
As long as we learn and grow from failed attempts, we are moving forward on a path toward success.
It is a fun journey if you allow it to be. Or you can allow it to depress you.
Some people may tell you to embrace failure but I won’t. I simply will tell you to learn from it and keep moving on a path that will ultimately lead to success.
I have had my failed attempts too. I want to help you learn and grow from them so you do not make the same mistakes I have made.
In my years of failing up, I have discovered some simple steps to create wealth. And I put that together in an audio book so you can partake in the wealth blueprint.
I meet many people who have difficulty stopping to read a book, but having an audio version allows you to listen while performing other day-to-day tasks. So for only $14.99, you can have my audio version of the book To The Top – A Wealth Blueprint. Just click here to reserve your copy.
Conclusion
I hope this post inspired you to let go of any failed attempts to keep moving forward.
Sure, you may fail again but how you react is the key to your success. Play it right and you are moving closer to being…
At The Top!
