Famous Failures

The aim of knowing about the failures of famous people is not to gloat over other people's misfortune but to tell us that failure is never a deterrent of success. What is common among the famous people who succeeded is that they failed before.



The following are a list of famous people who have failed but succeeded in the end:

Thomas Edison: As a child he was gifted but was too disruptive for his school. As a result he was forced to leave school and his formal education ended at an early age. A teacher told him that he was too stupid to learn anything. Those who knew him considered his crackpot ideas to be "crazy". His invention of the light bulb proved everyone wrong.
Thomas Alva Edison's Quote: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Albert Einstein did not speak until he was 4-years-old and did not read until he was 7. His parents thought he was “sub-normal,” and one of his teachers described him as “mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams.” He was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School.
Albert Eintein's Quote: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

Walter Disney was American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, and animator. One of the most well-known motion picture producers in the world, Disney founded a production company. The corporation, now known as The Walt Disney company, makes average revenue of US $30 billion annually. Disney started his own business from his home garage and his very first cartoon production went bankrupt. During his first press conference, a newspaper editor ridiculed Walt Disney because he had no good ideas in film production.
Walter Disney's Quote: “All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. “

Steven Spielberg is an American film director. He has won 3 Academy Awards and ranks among the most successful filmmakers in history. Most of all, Steven was recognized as the financially most successful motion picture director of all time. During his childhood, Spielberg dropped out of junior high school. He was persuaded to come back and was placed in a learning-disabled class. He only lasted a month and then dropped out of school forever.

Henry Ford's first two automobile companies failed. That did not stop him from incorporating Ford Motor Company and being the first to apply assembly line manufacturing to the production of affordable automobiles in the world. He not only revolutionized industrial production in the United States and Europe, but also had such influence over the 20th century economy and society. His combination of mass production, high wages and low prices to consumers has initiated a management school known as "Fordism". He became one of the three most famous and richest men in the world during his time.
Henry Ford Failure Quote: "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely."

Bill Gates, founder and chairman of Microsoft, has literally changed the work culture of the world in the 21st century, by simplifying the way computer is being used. He happens to be the world's richest man for the last one decade. However, in the 70's before starting out, he was a Harvard University dropout. The most ironic part is that, he started a software company (that was soon to become Microsoft) by purchasing the software technology from "someone" for only US$50 back then.
Bill Gates's quotes: “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.”
“It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure. “

Harry Truman, US President, What it was: Truman's store sold silk shirts and other clothing. After a few successful years, Truman's store went bankrupt in 1922.

Wolfgang Armedeus Mozart: Though a child prodigy whose music is still loved today, Mozart was shunned by aristocracy and he lived much of his adult life in poverty. He died in his thirties and was buried in a paupers grave. Only after his death was he given his due respect.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Quote: “I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. “

Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade. However, that never stopped him to work harder! He strived and eventually became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. Churchill is generally regarded as one of the most important leaders in Britain and world history. In a poll conducted by the BBC in 2002 to identify the "100 Greatest Britons", participants voted Churchill as the most important of all.
Sir Winston Churchill's Quote: "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."
“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up.”

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
Michael Jordan's Quote:
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."