Change your perspective

When you are chasing your dreams, be prepared to face obstacles, and possibly even fail.

Every dreamer who dares to chase their dreams goes through challenging times. The dreamers who don’t let detours stop them are the ones who win. Sometimes failure is a part of the process, so you must learn to see it as a tool instead of a roadblock.

Taking the time to look at the failures and resilience of others is one of the best ways to get past your own setbacks on the path to success.

There are countless examples of iconic people who have achieved success by facing their failings and harnessing determination. The path to victory is rarely linear. By allowing yourself permission to fail and nurturing more realistic expectations about your journey, you will be able to forge your way to triumph.

Michael Jordan

A name synonymous with basketball, Michael Jordan was actually cut from his high school basketball team. Endurance of spirit saw him go on to win six NBA Championships, making him arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.

“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”– Michael Jordan

JK Rowling

I am guessing you have heard of the box office hit Harry Potter, but most people don’t know the book was rejected countless times until one publisher decided to take a chance on the author’s vision. J.K Rowling eventually turned her initial story into a seven-book world-renowned series, which then resulted in corresponding blockbuster movies and has made her one of the wealthiest people in Britain. 

It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K Rowling

Stephenie Meyer

How about the film Twilight? I am guessing that rings a bell as well.

Before the Twilight series broke sales records, author Stephanie Meyer faced the failure of rejection fifteen times. She did not give up and finally sold the rights to publish the now wildly successful series which ultimately earned the author a place on the Forbes Celebrity 100 List and an ever-growing fortune to boot.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs started out incredibly successful in his 20’s when Apple evolved into a lucrative technology enterprise. However, when he was 30, the board of directors decided to fire him from his own company. Undeterred, Steve Jobs founded a new company that was eventually acquired by Apple. Once back within the realms of Apple, he co-created the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. He is hailed as one of the most influential businessmen of our time.

“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”– Steve Jobs

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah was the daughter of a teenage mother and grew up in poverty.

She was determined to do great things with her life and thought she found her way to success when she became a local news reporter. Her first job ended abruptly after the producer declared she was “unfit for television.” Oprah is now one of the most recognized TV personalities in the world, a multi-billionaire thanks to hosting one of the most successful talk shows of all time, and even owns her own TV channel.

“There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.”– Oprah Winfrey

Bill Gates

After dropping out of the highly acclaimed Harvard University, Bill Gates launched his first company, which ended in a colossal failure. Undeterred, a few years later, he began Microsoft and, as they say, the rest is history. Bill Gates is now one of the wealthiest and most successful individuals in the business world. 

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”– Bill Gates

It is easy to become discouraged at times, so keep these people in mind whenever you feel like giving up. Be prepared for mistakes, missteps, and failures, and don’t forget that the only people who truly fail are those who give up when they encounter setbacks or rejection.

Failure isn’t and shouldn’t spell the end – it is an opportunity to reevaluate, reassess, and return wiser, stronger, and better positioned for your eventual success!