7 Famous Successful Inventors And Public Figures Who Failed at First
Not everyone who’s on
top today got there with success after success. More often than not, those who
history best remembers were faced with numerous obstacles that forced them to
work harder and show more determination than others. Next time you’re feeling
down about your failures in college or in a career, keep these six famous
people in mind and remind yourself that sometimes failure is just the first
step towards success.
Investors
These inventors changed
the face of the modern world, but not without a few failed prototypes along the
way.
1. Thomas Edison:
In his early years, teachers told Edison he was “too stupid to learn anything.”
Work was no better, as he was fired from his first two jobs for not being
productive enough. Even as an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts
at inventing the light bulb. Of course, all those unsuccessful attempts finally
resulted in the design that worked.
2. Orville and Wilbur Wright:
These brothers’ battled depression and family illness before starting the
bicycle shop that would lead them to experimenting with flight. After numerous
attempts at creating flying machines, several years of hard work, and tons of
failed prototypes, the brothers finally created a plane that could get airborne
and stay there.
Public Figures
From politicians to
talk show hosts, these figures had a few failures before they came out on top.
3. Winston Churchill:
This Nobel Prize-winning, twice-elected Prime Minster of the United Kingdom
wasn’t always as well regarded as he is today. Churchill struggled in school
and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced many years of political
failures, as he was defeated in every election for public office until he
finally became the Prime Minister at the ripe old age of 62.
4. Abraham Lincoln:
While today he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of our nation,
Lincoln’s life wasn’t so easy. In his youth he went to war a captain and
returned a private (if you’re not familiar with military ranks, just know that
private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn’t stop failing there, however. He
started numerous failed business and was defeated in numerous runs he made for
public office.
5. Oprah Winfrey:
Most people know Oprah as one of the most iconic faces on TV as well as one of
the richest and most successful women in the world. Oprah faced a hard road to get
to that position, however, enduring a rough and often abusive childhood as well
as numerous career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television
reporter because she was “unfit for TV.”
6. Harry S. Truman:
This WWI vet, Senator, Vice President and eventual President eventually found
success in his life, but not without a few missteps along the way. Truman
started a store that sold silk shirts and other clothing–seemingly a success at
first–only go bankrupt a few years later.
7. Dick Cheney:
This recent Vice President and businessman made his way to the White House but
managed to flunk out of Yale University, not once, but twice. Former President
George W. Bush joked with Cheney about this fact, stating, “So now we know –if
you graduate from Yale, you become president. If you drop out, you get to be
vice president.”
