Introduction
Every successful person has failed many more times than they have succeeded. Being a person who is focused on personal goals in life and is mission-orientated, you will inevitably fail over and over all the way as you progress to fulfilling your WHY! The key is to truly understand that you WILL fail as you progress to the top. As soon as you realize every failure is a stepping stone to the top and that the more stones you have in place the higher your success level will be, then you will be on the right track. The following is a list of people we all know who are considered the top in their fields and all who failed many times but never quit. Always remember: winners never quit and quitters never win!
James Earl Jones once waxed floors to earn a living.
JFK lost the election for freshman class president at Harvard.
Walt Disney was dyslexic as a child, and his first cartoon production company went bankrupt.
Dr. Seuss’s first book was rejected by twenty-seven publishers, and he even considered burning the manuscript!
Jay Leno failed the employment test at Woolworth’s.
John Grisham’s first book was rejected by sixteen agents and twelve publishers.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school’s varsity basketball team as a sophomore.
John Di Lemme was a stutterer for many years of his life and is now an international, motivational speaker and strategic business coach that helps people achieve their dreams, goals and desires!
These are just a few examples among millions of people who overcame supposed “failures” and have gone on to become great successes. You need to ask yourself, “How strong is my WHY?” Can you endure the price you must pay in order to achieve your WHY? But wait. There’s more!
The following is just another powerful example of someone that we all are very familiar with who just would not quit and always envisioned his ultimate goal/WHY:
1831 – Lost his job.
1832 - Defeated for Legislature.
1833 - Failed in business.
1836 - Suffered a nervous breakdown.
1838 – Defeated for Legislature.
1840 - Defeated for elector.
1843 - Defeated for Congress.
1848 - Defeated for Congress.
1854 - Defeated for Senate.
1856 - Defeated for Vice President.
1858 - Defeated for Senate.
1860 – Elected President.
Guess who? Abraham Lincoln! Unreal, huh? Lincoln is one of the most highly-recognized presidents of the United States. Most people would have quit after just experiencing one of his defeats, but he persevered until he became the president of the United States.
Lincoln’s failures made him one of the best presidents ever because he struggled all the way there. When an individual earns his/her position in the spotlight, they are full of pride and will do the best possible job. Abraham Lincoln’s stepping stones to the presidency empowered him to become a legend in U.S. history. You need to look at your own journey and see where you have failed in order to learn from the experience.
Every failure makes you a stronger person and when you reach your pinnacle of success you will be the best there ever was because you earned the right to be there! I suggest that you keep this book handy and read the story of Abe Lincoln while you are progressing on your journey, because you will be able to relate to the words defeat/failure. Abe Lincoln definitely knew what his WHY was!
All of the champions exhibited these 31 Attitudes of a Self-Made Millionaire! They knew their Why. Do you truly know your Why? Every morning as you start your day, reread Abe’s story and other stories like it. This will ignite you to fight through whatever challenges you are presently facing as you endeavor to find your ultimate WHY in life.
In September 2001, John Di Lemme founded Di Lemme Development Group, Inc., a company known worldwide for its role in expanding the personal development industry. As President and CEO, John strives for excellence in every area of his business and believes that you must surround yourself with a like-minded team in order to stay on top of your game.
In addition to building a successful company, John has changed lives around the globe as an international motivational speaker that has spoken in over five hundred venues. Over the past thirteen years, he has shared the stage with the best of the best including Rich Devos, Denis Waitley, Jim Rohn, and Les Brown only to name a few. This is truly an amazing feat for someone that was clinically diagnosed as a stutterer at a very young age and told that he would never speak fluently.
John truly believes that everyone needs personal development to reach their full potential in life, and his determination to reach all forms of media with his motivational messages has catapulted his career. John has produced over four hundred fifty products and is an accomplished author of thirteen books including his best-selling book, “47 Secrets of Extreme Customer Service.” As a Strategic Business Coach and Small Business Expert, John’s students include doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, consultants, CEOs of million dollar companies, and various other occupations that are thriving in a so-called poor economy. John’s success with his students has made him one of the most highly sought after business coaches in the world.
John’s passion is to teach others how to live a champion life despite the label that society has placed on them. Through his books, audio/video materials, sold-out live seminars, numerous television interviews, intensive training boot camps, weekly tele-classes, Strategic Business Coaching, Closing & Marketing University, Millionaire Affirmation Academy, Small Business Motivational Marketing Daily Tip, and Lifestyle Freedom Club memberships, John has made success a reality for thousands worldwide.