The popular media is now admitting that the stats about college grads having more lifetime earning potential over non-grads is perhaps skewed. Truth be known, ambitious persons usually attend college and generally make more money. Researchers also suggests that had these same people never attended college their earning potential would probably have remained the same.

This priciple can be applied to those whom we consider successful. It would not have mattered what steps they had taken, the outcome would be identical. The reason is success is an expression of the Authentic cause within each unique individual. A successful state of being is not obtained by following a series of to-do’s or by taking on different roles. That is why so called formulas for success continue to produce less than satisfactory results. Success (much like happiness) is not something you can put on a “to-do” list, but rather it is a “state of being”.

A real simple approach to learning how to become successful is to read about those who you believe have attained your life’s dreams. By considering people who satisfy your definition of success you will find there is only one cause that they all share and that is persistence.

A Few Examples of Successful Failures

According to “The Secret of Success is Not a Secret,” by Darcy Andries, Tenacity or being persistent in maintaining, or seeking something valued or desired is the name of the game. Here are just a few examples from her book:

Clint Eastwood
This actor, director and producer was fired early in his career. Universal Studio executives told him, “You have a chipped tooth, your Adam’s apple sticks out to far and you talk to slow.” He took on odd jobs to earn a living then one day he starred in an Italian movie called, “A Fist Full of Dollars.” It was a huge success and the director had him also star in, “A Few Dollars More” and “The Good, Bad and Ugly.” Once these movies were released he became a global sensation.

Walt Disney
Walt failed very early on in his entrepreneurial endeavors and found himself bankrupt. He was also fired by a newspaper editor as he “had no good ideas.” He spent 4 years producing “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” despite his critics and it cost him1.5 million dollars in 1938, almost causing his second business to end in bankruptcy. Since releasing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1939, the movie has earned over $400 million dollars. Walt Disney also holds the record for receiving the most Academy Awards, twenty-six, with sixty-four nominations.

Albert Einstein
In elementary school Albert performed poorly and it was suspected by his teachers that he was mentally handicapped. Most considered him to be a failure with no future. Later he failed the entrance exam into the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and his doctorial dissertation was rejected as “irrelevant and fanciful.” It was only after he published “The Special Theory of Relativity” that he gained any recognition. Einstein won a Nobel Prize in 1921 for Physics.

David Letterman
David was fired as an Indianapolis weatherman. He later landed ordinary roles on two television programs that were both canceled only after a few episodes. Another series was to be called “Leave it to Dave,” however it never aired. He then had a morning show called, “The David Letterman Show,” which was canceled after four months. Finally Dave was given his own show “Late Night with David Letterman” earning five Emmy Awards and thirty nominations. He later moved to CBS to host “The Late Show” which earned nine Emmy Awards and more than fifty Emmy nominations.

Clark Gable
Clark worked for 10 years trying to get the attention of Hollywood. He worked in small scale theatrical plays as he travel to Oregon from Ohio. He got busy selling ties just to make a living. His first screen test for MGM was a failure and he was forced to find work as an extra in silent movies. He retreated from film and went back to theatre. He auditioned for Warner Brothers but was again turned down. They felt his ears were just too large. Gable returned to MGM in 1931 and found a role in The Painted Desert which was a success. It seems however that Clark let the fame go to his head and MGM studios sent him to smaller studios in an effort to teach him humility. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1934 for his role in “It Happened One Night.” His most famous role of course was as the male lead in “Gone With the Wind”.

Abraham Lincoln
Now this story is no doubt one of the best known successful failures in American history.

1. In 1831 his first business, a dry goods store failed.
2. One year later he entered The Black Hawk War as Captain. Only 3 months later he left the Army as a Private.
3. 1832 lost the election for State Legislation.
4. Opened another store, which also failed leaving him in debt in 1833.
5. As a postmaster he had the worse efficiency record in the county.
6. He won in 1834 for the Illinois House of Representatives but in 1838 lost for Speaker of the House.
7. 1843 Lincoln lost an election for U.S. Congress.
8. He ran again and won but later lost the 1848 election.
9. 1855 he lost his bid for the U.S. Senate
10. 1856 he ran for Vice President and lost.
11. 1858 he again ran for U.S. Senate and lost again.
12. Finally in he ran for president of the United States in 1860 winning with 40% of the popular vote. It was assumed that he would lose re-election in 1864, but he won with 55% of the popular vote.

What seminar on success did Abraham and these other successful failures attend and apply? What are the “7, 10 or 15 Principals of Success” that they followed? What does this say about the “Law of Attraction?”

The Inevitability of Your Success

The above stories reveal the dynamics of real life. These are typical examples of how people discover real success. The path, if you noticed is not direct. Success comes only after failure and persistence. It was their inner drive, fueled by passion that compelled these people to press forward against repeated failures and disappointments.

I think famed Hollywood actor Tony Curtis nailed it during an interview for Steve Young’s book “Great Failures of the Extremely Successful” when he said:.

There’s no way I can point to a single experience or event and say that from then on, my life was changed. It’s just the living of life itself. You cannot put that into words. It’s too variable. Too changing. Every moment, every second we are alive provides so may inputs and impulses that it’s too difficult to choose one and say, ‘That’s what did it for me.’ - Tony Curtis - Actor, Painter and Writer

It is persistance of our inner motivation that is responsible for success, and tenacity is very simply the willingness to insist on expressing your true inner self in the face of any and all obstacles.

Passion for an idea, is the tangible evidence that you are tapping into your Authentic Side where your inner motivator resides. When you feel excitement and exhibit a sense of joy found in your accomplishments, you are expressing your authentic inner self and given time, success is inevitable.

! Be persistent! Never give up!

However, there is a method that can inspire more passion within you. A “Short-cut” if you will, on your path to a successful state of being. If you feel there must be a lot more to all of this, you’re right. Do you require more?

The “Real You” the “Successful You” awaits discovery!