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TOP 17 INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES TO KEEP YOU STRIVING FOR YOUR DREAMS

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inspirational success stories

There’s nothing like reading a few good success stories to lift our spirits.  There’s something uniquely powerful about knowing someone else has experienced setbacks and serious hardships similar to our own, and yet still managed to come out on top. 

Success stories are invigorating, and a great one can provide us with a renewed hope, that despite things feeling unimaginably hard and seemingly hopeless, we can still achieve our dreams.  So, here are some of the best real life inspirational stories of success we’ve ever studied.

Use them to reenergize and inspire yourself to believe that you too can achieve success and your dreams, if you’ll but press on like they did.  Enjoy!

INSPIRING SUCCESS STORIES TO HELP YOU SUCCEED

inspirational success stories

1. Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has one of the most inspiring success stories. Before he made it big he was essentially a starving artist. For many years during and after his college years, he worked odd jobs to pay the bills. And he would do so while simultaneously taking on any acting roles he could find to keep his dreams of becoming a successful actor alive.

It was a struggle that Stallone would endure for many years, seven in fact. Throughout all of those seven challenging years, he would gain a few small roles in a handful of movies. But, none of them were grand enough to get his career launched.

During those seven long years of striving, he came face-to-face with near poverty. Stallone was so desperate for money at one point, he had to sell his wife’s jewelry. He even had to sell his dog because he couldn’t keep him fed. Things got so bad for Stallone that he even had to endure homelessness for a short period of time.

But, his days of struggle as an aspiring actor would not last forever. After facing seemingly insurmountable odds for over seven years, he would finally get his big break. And this break would come after he managed to get a script he wrote in a three day flurry of inspiration, in front of two big-shot directors in Hollywood.

It was this defining moment that would turn the tide for Sylvester Stallone. His career would skyrocket after he negotiated the lead role in the film that would come to be known as ‘Rocky’.

Success eventually comes to those who always dream of her. For a more complete account of Sylvester Stallone’s inspiring success story, you can find it here.

sylvester stallone success stories quote

2. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey’s success story is very unique. From a very early age she experienced a level of adversity and poverty that most people would struggle to overcome. She was born into poverty and a broken home in rural Mississippi. Her parents who were just 18 and 19 when they had her, split soon after she was born. This lead to her being taking in by her grand mother.

And her grandmother was not your typical warm and fuzzy grandmother. No, she was a hard-nosed grandmother who was an extreme disciplinarian who discipline her for even the slightest offenses. But, the poverty and disciplined lifestyle didn’t last forever as she moved back with mother at the age of six.

Oprah would then experience sexual assault at an early age, having been molested as early as 9 by some of her family members. Having been emotionally abandoned, abused, and molested, she eventually started part-taking in extremely risky behaviors. Behaviors which eventually led to her becoming pregnant at the age of 14.

Then, because she got pregnant her mother kicked her out of the house. Oprah would go on to live with her father, only to then lose the baby a week after he was born.

Needless to say, Oprah’s early life was chockfull of struggle, adversity, and tragedy. But, regardless of all of her unfortunate experiences, she decided to turn her life around after she lost her baby. So, she committed herself to getting an education, becoming her best, and to going after her dreams.

She decided to start trusting herself again, and loving herself, and making choices that would improve her life versus destroy it. One day, she garnered enough confidence to participate in a beauty pageant. And it was her participation in this pageant that would eventually lead her into a job working for a radio station doing the news.

Oprah’s love for speaking to an audience set the stage for continued success as she would go on to become a news anchor, which she would eventually leverage to host a TV chat show in Maryland, which ultimately led to her having her morning talk show in Chicago.

And as they say, the rest was history. Oprah overcame massive challenges in her youth. Challenges that side line all too many people. She chose to turn her wounds into wisdom, and went on to become one of the most successful talk show hosts in history (by helping many others do the same) with her own self-named talk show, The Oprah Winfrey show. Oprah is now one of the richest self-made women in America.

success stories - oprah winfrey

3. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Considering Arnold Schwarzenegger is the epitome of the self-made man, we wouldn’t dare exclude him from our success stories collection. Arnold was born and raised in Austria. He grew up at a time where the country was still healing from it’s defeat in World War II.

Alcoholism was rampant, defeatism was the norm, and big dreaming scoffed at in his environment. The odds were certainly stacked against young Arnold.

But Arnold didn’t care. He knew he didn’t want to live the traditional Austrian life his parents wanted for him. He also knew he wanted to move to America because it was the land of the free.

As such, he hatched a plan to become a success in body-building. Then to leverage that success to get into movies. And sure enough he did just that. He went on to fulfill his vision by becoming the youngest man to ever win a Mr. Universe competition, and then on to win five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles.

After reaching what he set out to do in the sport of bodybuilding, he then went on to commit himself to the acting career he had always dreamed of. And sure enough, he would go on to conquer the film industry to the same degree that he conquered the body building world. Going on to star in multiple blockbuster movies that would gross over $3 billion, and earn him one of the most sizeable net worth’s in Hollywood.

You can find a more complete account of Arnold’s inspiring journey here: Arnold Schwarzenegger Success Story.

Success Stories Arnold Quote

4. JK Rowling

J.K Rowling had a dream of becoming a writer early on. But, she would have to persist for many years before her dream of becoming a published author would materialize. Almost as soon as she decided to get to work on putting her ideas down on paper for her book, she would be sidetracked by her mother’s death.

The depression that would ensue left Rowling seeking out a job as a teacher in another country. Soon after, she married and had a child, which would delay her aspirations even further.

But things weren’t done going off the rails for Rowling, as her marriage would abruptly end just one year after it began. This lead to her being jobless with a child, and a barely surviving off of unemployment benefits.

However, despite her challenges, Rowling would persist in the creation of her book. And she did so by seizing every spare moment she could while her child slept to write. Until finally the day came when she completed her manuscript.

Of course, even after Rowling finished her manuscript obstacles still remained. 12 different publishers rejected her novel. The rejection took a toll on her spirits, and she almost quit. Fortunately, she tried one more time. And it was at that moment, that J.K. Rowling’s luck turned around. She finally found a publisher would accepted her manuscript.

Now, J.K. Rowling is one of the best selling authors of all time. She is also the highest paid novelist in the world. Her books have been translated into over 80 different languages with over 600 million sold. Clearly, persistence and patience pays off in the long run.

success stories - jk rowling quote

5. Steven Spielberg

Most people don’t know this, but Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school three times. But he didn’t let those rejections stop him, and he kept applying till he got accepted.  Eventually Cal State, Long Beach would accept him into their film program. 

Fortunately for Spielberg, he would then go on to leverage his opportunity at Cal State to land an unpaid internship at Universal Studios. 

Of course, this internship wouldn’t last forever, but it lasted just long enough for him to learn how sneak in to the studios undetected so he could continually gather intel on what it would take to become successful in the business. 

Finally, the day would come that he managed to get a film he created in the hands of film executives. But, he had to first overcome the film executives multiple attempts to make him give up.

After being told that the film size was not the right size multiple times, and remaking the entire demo to the recommended sizes every time, the executives finally relented and gave him his film a shot. The movie would go on to win major awards, and solidified Steven Spielberg’s place within the industry.

Steven Spielberg is now one of the most influential film makers in history. On top of this, he’s now also one of the wealthiest. And out of all of our inspirational stories of success, his story in particular, shows, that if you knock long enough and hard enough, the doors of opportunity will eventually swing open for you.

Related: 5 Steps to Start Living Your Dreams

Success Stories - spielberg

6. Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash has a truly inspiring success story. She was born in a small town in Texas and got married and started a family at the young age of 17. She would go on to have three children with her husband who was in the military, but they eventually got a divorce.

Mary Kay would struggle for years to take care of her children on her own. But she took on various sales jobs in the direct selling industry, and strived to climb the corporate ranks.

However, after many years of selling various products, along with a few middle management and trainer roles, she started to feel like she was being overlooked for the more prominent leadership roles she aspired to because she was a woman. As such, she eventually decided to take matters into her own hands.

Once her kids were out of the house and on their own, at the age of 45 Mary Kay Ash decided to become her own boss. So, she started her own cosmetic company. She started off very small, but in just a few short years, she manage to transform Mary Kay Cosmetics into a multi-billion dollar corporation that still serves and empowers people all over the world to this day.

Despite being past what most people consider their prime, Mary Kay went on to author multiple best-selling books like The Mary Kay WayMiracles HappenYou Can Have It All, as well as a few others, and she became an inspiration to countless women. And due to the success of her business and her aim to inspire as many people as possible, she became a multi-millionaire and eventually named as ‘The Greatest Woman In American History’.

inspirational success stories - mary kay ash

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in a household that was barely getting by. As a child, he had to share a room with three of his siblings due to their meager financial situation. There were even times where they didn’t have enough money to buy a soccer ball just so he could play in the streets. But Ronaldo did not let his environment dictate his destiny.

No, instead he would find ways to play the sport he loved even without the ball. He would use bottles, rags, or pretty much anything he could find to make a makeshift ball just so he could play. 

Eventually, Cristiano would get so good at soccer, that he would have to make the ultimate sacrifice at the age of 11 to move over 500 miles away from his family to train with a prestigious soccer academy. It’s a good thing he did too, because by doing so, he put himself on track to eventually become on of the best players in history.

Cristiano Ronaldo is now known as the greatest Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football federation.  Millions of soccer fans all across the globe believe him to be the greatest of all time. 

In addition to this, he is the first soccer player ever to earn over $1 billion dollars, while generating one of the largest net worth’s among professional athletes.  

If you’re looking to learn more about Cristiano’s inspiring success story, you’ll love this.

success story quote

8. Lionel Messi

While on the topic of soccer, we must also mention Lionel Messi’s success story because it’s every bit as inspiring.  Here’s why, at age of 11, Messi was cut from his soccer team because they thought he was too small.  And he was small, but it was because he had a growth hormone deficiency which made him a lot smaller than all the other kids his age.

Fortunately, Messi didn’t let this deter him.  Instead, he would place himself on a strict regimen where he would inject growth hormones into himself.  And he would go on to do inject himself with this hormone for seven days in one leg, and then seven days in the other.

Messi would keep this routine up for six years.

The great news is, Messi’s sacrifice and persistence paid off.  Because now, he is one of the highest paid soccer players with a staggering net worth, and is considered by legions of fans to be one of the best soccer players of all time due to his winning soccer’s highest achievement, ‘The Ballon d’Or’ six times.

Success requires sacrifice.

success story quote - messi

9. Michael Jordan

Since we mentioned the greatest of all time in soccer, we can’t leave out the man many consider to be the greatest of all time in basket ball. Now, most people aren’t’ aware of this, but when Michael Jordan was merely a sophomore in high school, he already had big dreams of being a great basketball player. 

So he did something brash and tried out for the Varsity team. But, his coaches cut him from the team. They didn’t see his value nor did they think he was ready.

This rejection hit Jordan especially hard because of his oversized dreams and expectations. In fact, the rejection hit him so hard he went home afterwards and cried in his closet.

Even though that rejection still bothered Jordan, he dusted himself off and went all in for the JV team.  He trained like no other in the off season and grew four extra inches. And the following year he tried out for the varsity team again. But this second time around, he made it.

Not only did he make it, but he went on to become the team’s MVP, making the All-American Team, and eventually earned himself a college scholarship. And from there, well, you know the rest of the story.

Michael Jordan became the man who would score 32,292 points in a basketball career. Jordan became the man who acquired 6 NBA championships. The man who also collected 5 MVP titles, and is now considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

For all the success stories we’ve covered, this one clearly shows the importance of having great expectations, and resilience after rejection.

success stories quote by michael jordan

10. Paulo Coelho

Over 30 years ago a book titled ‘The Alchemist’ was published and hardly anyone noticed. The author of this book was a man named Paulo Coelho, and he was told by the first bookseller to carry his book, that only one person bought a copy after it was released.  As bad as it was to hear about the grim results Coelho remained confident in his work. 

Paulo Coelho waited for better results to appear. Unfortunately, six months passed before he sold his next copy.  Oddly, the person who bought his first book was the same person who bought the second.

After that first year the publisher decided the book was a flop and ended Coelho’s contract.  Fortunately, though, Coelho shrugged off that initial defeat.  He made up his mind to not give in. So Coelho doubled down to pursue his vision with even more fervor by finding another publisher. 

“Now, Coelho found a new publisher, but it was no easy task, as he encountered rejection after rejection.  But, after many repeated rejections, he finally landed that new publisher, and with it, another opportunity to capture his dream.

From that point forward Coelho’s dreams started to come true.  At first, he only sold three thousand books.  But the sales kept trickling in. And as time went by, he would sell ten thousand, and then 100 thousand, and so on and so forth. 

Coelho’s luck has yet to run out. His books sales continue to grow year over year, with now over 150 million and counting copies of ‘The Alchemist’ having been sold. Even more staggering is the fact that he sold over 320 million books when including all of his other works. But, it all started with that first book!

Paulo Coelho’s success story shows that if you truly want something bad enough, all the universe really will conspire to help you achieve the impossible.

11. Abraham Lincoln

Most of us know of this great man because of what he did for those who were in bondage in the United States of America. He delivered the Emancipation Proclamation; a massive accomplishment which ultimately led to the abolition of slavery.

But, what most don’t realize about Abraham Lincoln, is that he has one of the most impressive rap sheets when it comes to overcoming defeat.

In short, his success story consists of a list of failures and set backs so sizable, that you would hardly think it belonged to one of the most accomplished and respected presidents of the United States of America.

Here’s a great example of the many failures Lincoln endured, with a few victories he managed to sprinkle in over his lifetime:

1832: Lost his job

1832: Defeated for legislature

1833: Failed in business

1834: Elected to legislature

1835: The woman he loved died

1836: Had a nervous breakdown

1838: Defeated for Speaker

1843: Defeated for nomination for Congress

1848: Lost re-nomination

1849: Reject for Land Officer

1854: Defeated for Senate

1856: Defeated for nomination for Vice-President

1858: Again defeated for Senate

1860: Elected for President of The United States of America

To be sure, Lincoln virtually failed his way to success. His recorded failures helps us realize the truth behind the Michael Jordan quote we mentioned earlier, and that is…that the key to success is through failure.

Out of all of these success stories, this one in particular should convince you that just because you’ve yet to succeed in life, it doesn’t mean you never will. So, keep pushing and preparing for your big day, because it will come, so long as you keep eye on the prize and keep moving forward.

Real Life Inspirational Stories of Success - Abe Lincoln

Related: Success Quotes for Overcoming Failure

12. Tom Brady

One of our favorite inspirational stories of success comes from Tom Brady. Brady didn’t follow the typical athletic path into the NFL. While most athletes begin getting groomed for the sport by the 3rd grade, Tom Brady wouldn’t set foot onto the grid iron until the 9th grade.

In fact, his debut into actually getting onto the football field didn’t come until his Sophomore year. His moment came when the starting quarterback for the JV team quit. Fortunately for Brady, that opportunity helped him capture the starting Varsity QB role by the time his Junior year arrived.

After finding success at the high school level, Brady would eventually go on to become a Michigan Wolverine. But success wasn’t a given for Brady at this level. Nope, he had to earn it.

In fact, Brady came into the program as an underdog, with seven quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart. After almost requesting a transfer to another school, Brady’s determination eventually won him the coveted starting position by the time he was a Junior.

The obstacles Brady would face continued on even into the Pros. Brady had his mind set to play in the pros, unfortunately there was little interest in him during the draft. In fact, he was selected in the 6th round as the 199th pick, just barely making it into the league.

Pretty much every coach in the league grossly underrated and underestimated Brady. His draft report from 2000 NFL draft actually stated the following qualities:

  • Poor Build | Skinny
  • Lacks Great Physical Stature and Strength
  • Lacks Mobility and Ability to Avoid The Rush
  • Lacks a Really Strong Arm
  • Can’t Drive The Ball Down Field
  • Doesn’t Throw a Really Tight Spiral
  • System-Type Player Who Can Get Exposed if Forced to Adlib
  • Easily Knocked Down

Remember, Tom brady was not the highest rated quarterback, he wasn’t the most well groomed for the sport, nor was he the best athlete. In addition, he didn’t have the best numbers, or even the best mechanics. However, Tom Brady did have the most heart and determination.

Thus, through sheer willpower, he pushed himself to becoming one of the greatest football players of all times. And he has proved his case with the following accolades:

  • Most NFL Championships By a Player (7x)
  • Most Games Won By a Quarterback
  • Most Games Played By a Quarterback
  • Most Combined Passing Yards
  • Most Touchdown Passes
  • Most 4th Quarter Comebacks
  • Best Touchdown to Interception Ratio
  • 5 Time Super Bowl MVP
  • 3 Time MVP of the NFL
  • 2 Time NFL All-Decade Team Player
  • Only Player to Win a Super Bowl for Both The AFC & NFC

Related: Hungry For Success Quotes

13. Sarah Blakely

This success story is about Sarah Blakely, who was once crowned one of the youngest self-made billionaires by Forbes. Her story begins with her love of the firm look that panty hose offered, but her hating how they looked when she wore open toe shoes.

Blakely’s annoyance with panty hose would lead to her always cutting the feet off of her panty hose to pull of the look she was going for. But, after noticing that many other women were doing the same thing, she had a lightbulb moment. And she started to contemplate the creation of a product that would solve this problem.

One day after watching an inspiring Oprah show, Sarah decided to take massive action on her idea. So, she risked it all by investing her entire $5,000 life savings to move to Atlanta, GA. Once there, she would kickstart the production of her product idea for the masses.

Blakely experienced tons of resistance at first. Nobody wanted to manufacture the product she was trying to create. They thought it was too risky and a potential waste of time. Her patent officer even found it difficult to take her idea seriously, thinking it to be a dud.

But, after two years of planning, countless late nights, and lots of no’s, she finally found success. Her lucky break came when a factory agreed to manufacture her products. And when Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales took a risk on her by listing her products for sale at their stores.

Her first year in business she sold over $4 million in revenue. And every year there after her sales would grow exponentially. Sarah’s courage to go all in, and her persistence to bring her idea to the world helped her become a billionaire by the age of 41.

14. Grant Cardone

This next story helps drive the point home, that it’s never too late to be what you might have been. It’s also a good reminder that no matter where you come from, or where you’ve been, you can change. It’s a testament that anyone can clean up their act, and can find massive success in the process.

This success story is about a man who grew up poor in Louisiana, lost his father at a young age, and was raised a single-parent household with four other siblings. It’s a story about a man named Grant Cardone.

Cardone is not your typical celebrity. He didn’t come from money. He’s not a Hollywood superstar,. Nor does he possess some amazing talent, like script-writing, politics, or athleticism. However, what he does possess, is something that is available to us all, and that is a determination to succeed.

Grant Cardone found himself in bad company in his youth. He was involved and addicted to drugs, and was stuck in a downward spiral for over a decade. After getting robbed at gunpoint, being beaten to a bloody pulp with a gun, and then being kicked out of his mother’s house, he finally decided to change his life.

At the age of 25 Grant Cardone decided to clean up his act. He cut all negative influences from his life, got sober, and took the first job he could land.

That job was as a car salesmen. It was a title and a position that Grant was not very fond of.

The economy was slow which meant he didn’t have many options, so he made it work.

Cardone committed to becoming the best salesperson he could be. So, he invested heavily in his own self-improvement by reading books and studying his craft and his industry.

After committing to becoming his very best, his income quickly doubled. And soon thereafter, he would become one of the best car salesmen in the country. He eventually moved on to running his own business, and was extremely smart and disciplined with his money.

Cardone only spent money on what was absolutely necessary for food our housing. He would place anything left over into an investment fund just for real estate.

Grant Cardone’s focus on learning more so that he could earn more, along with having the discipline to invest his extra money, instead of wasting it on frivolous things, helped him become a self-made millionaire just five years later by the age of 30.

Cardone has since gone on to become a prominent international businessman, speaker, and the owner of Cardone Capital, a $1.5 billion investment firm.  He’s authored the New York Times bestselling books If You’re Not First, You’re Last, and other notable books like The 10X Rule, and Axiom Award winning Sell or Be Sold.  In addition to this, he also founded Cardone University, a popular sales training platform that has accrued over 50,000,000 and growing users.

It took Grant Cardone only five years to completely revolutionize his entire life. With the right mindset and a good dose of willpower, just imagine what 5 years could do for you.

inspirational success stories - grant cardone

15. Kevin Hart

Every body knows of and loves Kevin Hart. He’s been making us laugh and keeping us highly entertained for many years now. But, what most people don’t know about Kevin Hart, is that he had to overcome some major obstacles before he became one of the most beloved comedians in the world.

Hart had to overcome a negative homelife with a father who was reckless, toxic, and always causing trouble. He had to overcome the challenges of a 2 hour commute for years.

Hart endured naysayers often. In fact, someone he highly respected in the industry told him that he should quit comedy. He had to outlast the boos, the heckling, and getting chicken wings thrown at him due to his performances.

Kevin Hart had to turn countless setbacks into comebacks. He had to choose time after time, to not quit. He chose to keep pushing for his dreams, to ignore the critics, the naysayers, and anyone who doubted his dreams.

Eventually though, Hart’s persistence and commitment to his vision would pay off. The tide would turn for Kevin Hart after years of career stagnancy, rejection, and close calls with defeat.

Kevin Hart is now one of the world’s top 10 comedians. He’s also one of the richest too. So, if you think you can’t do something, just think about Kevin Hart’s success story and all he went through. Because if he can do it, so can you.

16. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins’ upbringing was rough. His parents divorced when he was only 7 and his mother would go on to get remarried 4 different times as he grew up.

His mother’s unstable relationships with men created a chaotic environment for Tony and his siblings. As the oldest of three other siblings, Robbins felt obligated to step up and help his family cope in a household led by a substance abusing mother.

Robbins had to grow up fast.  As a teenager he had to do the grocery shopping every week for the family because his mother couldn’t be bothered to do it. He also had to prepare the meals for everyone because no one else would.

Eventually, Robbins had to take on various jobs in his youth just to keep the bills paid. Amazingly, Robbins would do all these things even without a car, relying solely on public transportation to get around.

At the age of 17, Robbins had a falling-out with his mother, and she kicked him out of the house.  He finished high school but avoided college.

Armed only with a high school diploma he struggled for a few years working menial jobs that sucked the life out of him.  He gained weight, felt broke, and started feeling hopeless about his situation.

One day, after attending a Jim Rohn he became inspired to turn it all around.  He embraced Rohn’s message of hope and the power of taking responsibility for one’s situation.  And he used that inspiration to reach out to Jim Rohn himself for work, and Rohn obliged.

Robbins soon became one of the Rohn’s best salesman.  In fact, Robbins was so good that he became a millionaire by the age of 26 just from sales. 

Leveraging everything he learned from Rohn, Robbins eventually broke out on his own and became the best-selling author, high performance coach, and multimillionaire that the world has come to know and love.

Tony Robbins story goes to show that our past doesn’t equal our future. And you can overcome slow starts and challenging situations to create a rich and wonderful life.

17. John Paul DeJoria

John Paul DeJoria experienced plenty of hardship before achieving true success. For starters, he grew up in relative poverty. After his parents divorced, his mother couldn’t support him and his brother, so was given up to a foster home.

When his mother finally made enough money to get him and his brother out of the foster home, he still eventually had to find work early on to help his struggling mother pay the bills.

Unfortunately, the financial challenges didn’t cease for John Paul DeJoria after striking out on his own.

After graduating from high school, DeJoria spent two years in the Navy and then started a family. He eked by for a long time by taking various odd jobs as a janitor, gas station attendant, insurance salesmen, and even a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman.

He struggled for a long time to create a prosperous and stable life for himself and his family.
Unfortunately, his wife grew impatient and abandoned him and his two-year-old son. Shortly after, he eventually became homeless for a brief period of time. Thankfully, DeJoria never gave up hope.

He hustled for years to get his life in order and provide for his son. Eventually, he found his lucky break after getting his haircut by a hairdresser named Paul Mitchell.

After learning about a high-quality product that his hairdresser sold, he saw the opportunity to go into business with him to help sell his product across the city. So, he went into business with Paul Mitchell and the product became a big hit locally, and then eventually across the entire beauty industry.

John Paul DeJoria leveraged the grit, salesmanship, and business acumen he acquired from all his unprosperous years to transform his budding business partnership into a multinational enterprise. Now, he’s a multi-billionaire.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully these success stories help you realize that while success may be elusive, it is not unattainable. We also hope that these handpicked stories have helped you understand that success is both a journey and a destination.

But most importantly, we hope you walk away knowing that in order to achieve success, you’ll have to first go through your share of struggles, rejections, and even disasters, but are now eager to take on the challenge.

So, keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the prize. Keep moving towards your dreams no matter what. Do this, and your success will be just around the corner.

Till you reach your aims,

STRIVE

PS – Every success story is unique and can inspire in a different way. That said, if you’re looking for even more success stories about how others achieved success and riches, then you’ll love these Strive Stories too.

The STRIVE is on a mission to inspire and uplift 1 billion people by 2032. Our primary aim is to help as many people as possible believe in the uncommon thought, that they can be more than they are, do more than they've done, and achieve more prosperity than they've ever dreamed possible. Let's achieve the impossible together.

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THE MARK CUBAN SUCCESS STORY

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Mark Cuban Success Story

There is no question that Mark Cuban has achieved great success in his life. He is a self-made billionaire, and he has turned his passion for business into a successful career. But how did he do it? Certainly, it wasn’t easy. It took him years of hard work and determination to achieve his goal of becoming a billionaire, but in the end, he did it.

“It Doesn’t Matter How Many Times You Fail. You Only Have To Be Right Once And Then Everyone Can Tell You You’re An Overnight Success.”

– mark cuban –

That said, we believe success leaves clues, so we’ve decided to explore Mark Cuban’s story of success to see what his journey to the top reveals. As such, in this article, we will explore how Mark Cuban got started with business and what his first big break was that propelled him into stardom. We will also look at some of the challenges he faced along the way, and some of the clever ways he overcame them. So, if you’re ready to learn form this iconic entrepreneur and investor, let’s dive right in:

THE MARK CUBAN STORY OF SUCCESS

mark cuban story

How Mark Cuban Got Started With Business

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mark was the son of a working-class family that wasn’t always supportive of his aspirations. Despite a mother who was worried about her son’s professional options, Mark proved he had a knack for entrepreneurship by collecting coins, stamps, and baseball cards, and striving to profit off of them. He was undeniably a hard worker from an early age, and he credits much of his success to his drive and work ethic.

When Mark Cuban was in high school, he had a dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He started out selling garbage bags door to door and clearly had a knack for business. After high school, he attended Indiana University, focusing on business administration.

When in college, he made a bold move and decided to buy a local bar for the price of $15,000. He used his business skills to turn the bar around and make a profit, making it one of the most popular college student hangouts in the town. This was his first big break in the business world, and it showed him that he could be successful if he put in the hard work.

The Challenges of Becoming an Entrepreneur

Of course, no journey is without its challenges. And for Mark Cuban, there were plenty of them. After struggling to secure a career after college, he decided to go out on his own and start Broadcast.com with a fellow friend and alumni, Todd Wagner, which was an online video and streaming platform. He used the proceeds from the sale of his first technology company, MicroSolutions, to fund this endeavor. 

He struggled to make ends meet as he poured money into his business without seeing any return for quite some time. But by taking risks and pushing himself outside of his comfort zone, Mark Cuban finally started making some headway.

The idea of streaming was quite new in the year 1995, and many people doubted its potential. Critics and naysayers said it was redundant since there was already access to television and radio. However, Cuban and Wagner had a vision that streaming platforms would eventually overtake traditional media channels.

The company grew and was acquired by Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999, which gave Cuban his first taste of major success as an entrepreneur. This was a defining moment for Mark Cuban, as he became a self-made billionaire at the young age of 41. It also made him one of the richest people in America.

The Turning Point

Being able to leverage such a large deal with Yahoo allowed Cuban to start investing in other businesses and expand his portfolio. He started acquiring companies like HDNet, the Landmark Theater Chain, and various online publications.

But it was his investment in the Dallas Mavericks that turned out to be his most successful venture yet. In 2000, he purchased the team for $285 million when it was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Mark Cuban Story on Success

He has since turned the team around and made it one of the most successful in the NBA. As a result, Mark Cuban’s net worth has grown an estimated $5.7 billion. Mark states that it had never crossed his mind that the Mavericks were a business investment and that the profits were a natural progression from following his passions and interests.

He then joined the Shark Tank TV show in 2011, which was what propelled him into stardom. He became one of the most successful investors on the show and has invested in more than 85 different companies through Shark Tank. In addition to this, he has also been a consistent fan favorite and continues to appear on the show every season.

Clearly, Mark Cuban is a testament to the saying “hard work pays off.” He is living proof that if you have a dream and are willing to put in the hard work, anything is possible. Each incremental step he took in his career was a stepping stone to the next opportunity.

“I Do (Shark Tank) Because It Sends the Message to Kids and Entrepreneurs of All Ages That if Somebody From a Small-time Town in Idaho or North Carolina Can Find Their Way Onto the Carpet to Pitch to the Sharks, Then Anybody Can.” – Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban Success Insights

Mark Cuban’s background in the ever-changing field of technology has taught him to value education above all else. From watching tutorials to listening to podcasts to reading books, to talking with top experts, he has a voracious appetite for learning.

In order to be successful in business, Cuban also believes that you need to take risks and put yourself out there. He’s not afraid of failure and knows that it’s an important part of the learning process.

He uses a competitive metaphor to remind himself and others how important it is to give your all and stay consistent in your dedication to your dreams. In the world of technology and business, innovations are constantly happening and the only way to stay ahead of the curve is to always be learning.

He also believes that time is more valuable than money, so it is of the utmost importance to be mindful of how you’re spending it. Spiraling out because of failure, delaying action because of fear, or wasting time on things that don’t matter are all habits that Cuban has learned to avoid.

Lastly, Cuban stresses the importance of networking and building relationships. He knows that nobody is truly self-made and relies on his network of friends, mentors, family members when he needs advice or help in any situation. He has strategically built a network that he knows will help him every step of the way and aligns with colleagues that he trusts and respects.

Success In His Own Words

That said, Mark Cuban has offered at handful of tips and success insights over the years in interviews, published articles, etc. So, if you’re interested in some of his best advice when it comes to success, you’ll enjoy these quotes:

1. “The key to being successful and achieving your dreams no matter what they are, is finding something you really really like to do, and being great at it.” – Mark Cuban

2. “The only thing in your control is effort. That’s all, and that’s everything.” – Mark Cuban

3. “I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t fail a lot. The good, the bad, it’s all part of the success equation.” – Mark Cuban

4. “How wisely you use your time will have far more impact on your life and success than any amount of money.” – Mark Cuban

5. “It’s not about money or connections — It’s the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone when it comes to your business. And if it fails, you learn from what happened and do a better job next time.” – Mark Cuban

Related: Mark Cuban Quotes

More Billionaire Success Advice

The success insights just mentioned above only offer a solid glimpse on what has helped Mark Cuban achieve the success he now enjoys. Of course, there is so much more to his success that meets the eye, but this brutally honest mashup of Mark Cuban interviews provides clear instruction to aspiring entrepreneurs and would-be billionaires.

So, if you’re hungry for some additional success advice from a billionaire, then you’ll want to watch this short video:

Video Credit: Motiversity (Subscribe Here)

Final Thoughts

The Mark Cuban success story is one of grit, determination, and hard work. He has faced plenty of challenges throughout his career, but he has never given up.

By being passionate about what he does and continuously pushing himself outside of his comfort zone, Cuban has become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in America. And there’s no telling what he’ll accomplish next.

That said, we hope this Mark Cuban story provided you with a few practical insights that you can now leverage to go out and achieve the success you seek.

Till you reach your aims,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoyed our Mark Cuban Story, then you’ll likely enjoy this powerful collection of rags to riches stories.

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THE GRANT CARDONE STORY

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grant cardone story of success

Grant Cardone is a prominent international businessman, speaker, and owner of Cardone Capital, a $5 billion investment firm.  Cardone is also the author of the New York Times bestselling book If You’re Not First, You’re Last, and other notable books like The 10X Rule, and Axiom Award winning Sell or Be Sold.  In addition to this, he is also the founder of Cardone University, a popular sales training platform that has accrued over 50,000,000 users and continues to grow to this day.  So, considering Grant Cardone’s list of impressive achievements, we will be diving into how this success superstar came to be in this Grant Cardone Story of Success.

“Average is a Failing Formula.”

They say success leaves clues, and we believe it.  Which is why we cover uber-successful people like Grant Cardone.  We also chose Grant Cardone because he has a great rags to riches story to boot. 

In addition to this, we also believe every story possesses hidden insights that can teach us, guide us, and benefit us in incredible ways.  So, with that being said, if you’re ready to learn how Grant Cardone became an above average person let’s dive in.

THE GRANT CARDONE STORY

grant cardone story

Growing Pains | Grant Cardone Success Story

Grant Cardone grew up in a little town called Lake Charles in the state of Louisiana.   He and his twin brother were the youngest out of five children.  Cardone lost his father at the age of 10, and his mother, with no education or work experience, had to support 5 children alone. It was a combination that led to very slim prospects for Grant’s success growing up.  Fortunately, his mother found a way to make it work. Needless to say, Cardone grew up poor, and in an environment that was less than ideal.

And it was this environment, and the trauma he faced from losing his father early in life, and his oldest brother a few years later, that led him towards a self-destructive and downward spiraling path.  And so, from the age of 15 to 25, Cardone found himself in bad company, making bad decisions, and addicted to drugs.

However, there was one traumatic event that would act as a catalyst for reversing the direction of his life.  And this event would occur one rainy night when Cardone was walking home.  While walking home, a friend of his orchestrated a robbery at gunpoint against him.

And in his attempts to fight off the armed robber, Cardone was severely beaten with a pistol and left for dead.  Cardone ended up in the hospital for three days and would need over 70 stiches.  The robbery had damaged his face so severely that when his mother came to visit, she couldn’t even recognize him.  

This experience was a major turning point for Cardone.  But the final straw that would see Cardone check himself into a rehab center was the day his mother kicked him out of her house.

Turning Point

Grant Cardone was 25 years old when he finally decided to clean his life up.  After he got out of rehab, Cardone committed to living a sober life in pursuit of his potential.  And even though he felt like a loser at the time, he knew, deep down inside, that he was meant to do more with his life. 

As such, upon his release from rehab he chose to cut out all negative influences from his life.  He stopped hanging around his drug addict friends, he stayed away from his enemies, and all those negative influences and environments that in the past kept him going back to the comfort of drugs like clockwork.

The Struggle

Now after deciding to turn his life around things didn’t automatically become full of sunshine and rainbows for Cardone.  He still had to find an avenue to pursue his potential.  Cardone had his degree in accounting, but such jobs were limited at the time.  And, with the economy being slow with unemployment at 24%, Cardone didn’t have the luxury of being selective.

“What’s Crazy Is The Thing I Hated Became The Gateway To The Rest Of My Life”

– grant cardone –

As such, he landed a job as a car salesperson, even though he detested the decision, because he had an accounting degree.   However, he took some advice he got from his mother early on and applied it to his situation.   And the advice was this…  “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

As such, he got to work learning as much as he possibly could about selling, how to influence people, along with everything there was to know about the automobile industry. 

After he saw his income double from $3,000 to $6,000 per month, he knew he figured out one of the most powerful tools for becoming successful, applied knowledge.  And, through that effort and investment in knowledge, Grant Cardone eventually became one of the best car salesmen in the country.

Towards Becoming Self-Made

Cardone’s success within the industry would skyrocket. Eventually, the owner of the company fired him for trying to do the right thing when he informed him that another salesperson was stealing from him. 

Grant Cardone Story Quote

But Cardone didn’t let this setback diminish his enthusiasm or momentum.  Instead, he decided to never become dependent on another person or company again. 

As such, he started his own sales consulting business, and began aggressively selling his sales strategies across the country.  And shortly thereafter, Cardone paved a way for himself as a self-made man.

Related: Motivational Grant Cardone Quotes

Success Ethos | Grant Cardone Story

Grant Cardone’s business took off, and his businesses were doing so well that he eventually became a millionaire by the age of 30.    But he didn’t become a millionaire just because his businesses were earning large amounts of income. 

The truth is, nobody automatically becomes a millionaire just because they have an income or a business. Grant Cardone became a millionaire by disciplining his money and fostering a millionaire mindset.

Essentially, every time he paid himself from his business’s earnings, he would consider himself “broke” immediately after, because he’d set all his extra money aside. He accumulated vast sums of money, and then used that money as down payments for investments, primarily in the form of real estate.

Cardone would do this for years, until his assets topped a million dollars.  And it is this same simple process that he uses to this day, which has helped him achieve more than a billion dollars in his investment ventures.  He strives to make as much money as he can, so he can invest as much as he can to build an investment empire, it’s that simple.

Success In His Own Words

With that being said, our Grant Cardone story wouldn’t be complete without a few wise words from the man himself. As such, here are a few supporting Cardone Quotes to help sum up his success ethos so you can follow suit:

1. “An Investment in Knowledge Always Pays The Best Interest.” – Grant Cardone

2. “Until you become completely obsessed with your mission, no one will take you seriously. Until the world understands that you’re not going away—that you are 100 percent committed and have complete and utter conviction and will persist in pursuing your project—you will not get the attention you need and the support you want.” – Grant Cardone

3. “Every time I get money, I go broke again because I shove it into this real estate thing [Cardone Acquisitions].” – Grant Cardone

4. “Cashflow is not bragging rights. It’s financial freedom.” – Grant Cardone

5. “Rich people don’t get rich by accident and poor people don’t stay poor by accident.” – Grant Cardone

But don’t just take our word for it. Watch the excellent video below. In the video he explains how he built up his massive net worth. In addition to this, he demonstrates how anyone can do the same to become a millionaire.

So, give it a watch, as it sums up his success ethos very succinctly.

Video Credit: Grant Cardone (Subscribe Here)

Related: Grant Cardone Net Worth

Conclusion

There you have it, the Grant Cardone story that describes his journey from being a poor kid from Louisiana, to barely surviving as a drug addict, to then making the most of his situation to rise to superstardom as one of the top motivational leaders internationally.

Grant now owns multiple businesses like Cardone Capital, Cardone Acquisitions, Cardone Training Technologies, Cardone University, Cardone TV, and many more.

We’ve uncovered the success ethos that has guided Cardone in creating the massive success and wealth he now enjoys. Here they are again as a recap to answer the question about how Grant Cardone became successful:

Obsession with Success | Self-DevelopmentInvesting Every Extra Dollar Into Assets

Now go forth and apply the Grant Cardone success insights you’ve just gained to help you improve your life.  And remember…

Grant Cardone Story Quote

So, don’t doubt that by doing so, you can and will eventually become a self-reliant and a self-made millionaire, just like Grant Cardone.

Till next time,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoyed our Grant Cardone success story, then you’ll love this collection of short but encouraging success stories.

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THE SYLVESTER STALLONE SUCCESS STORY

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Sylvester Stallone Success Story

Sylvester Stallone has been one of the most recognized names in Hollywood over the past four decades. And it all started with a simple story of a down and out dock worker named Rocky. A nobody who was given an opportunity of a lifetime and seized it.

“It’s All About Dreams.  Dreams Cost Nothing, They Are Free.”

– Sylvester Stallone –

Since then, Sylvester Stallone, and his series of movies revolving around Rocky have been inspiring people all around the world.  Not surprisingly, Sylvester Stallone’s real life story is every bit as motivating and inspiring as the fictional Rocky character he created.  As you’ll soon see, Sylvester Stallone’s life story is also a success story.

His success story is one that should be observed, retold, and shared, just as much as his movies are. Why? Because success leaves clues.  So, that’s what we intend to do in this post today; share his inspiring rags to riches story and hope you takeaway something to help you create your own success story.

With that being said, let’s dive in…

THE SYLVESTER STALLONE STORY OF SUCCESS

Sylvester Stallone Story of Success

Most people don’t know this about Sylvester Stallone, but he had a dream as a young man to become a big movie star in Hollywood.  He longed to become a great director, producer, and writer.   But of course, everyone told him it could not be done.  But, he wasn’t one to take no for an answer. And after finding little luck in the New York’s films scene, he decided to try his chances in Los Angeles.

As luck would have it, his life in Los Angeles was not all sunshine and rainbows.  He struggled and strived for a few years in Los Angeles as well.  At one point, things got so bad and he was so short on money that he had to take his wife’s jewelry, and sell it without her permission just to make a few extra dollars. 

He even went through a short period of homelessness, spending a few nights sleeping on the floor of a bus station.  But the worst of his dire straits would be when he had to sell his dog because he could barely keep him fed. 

Struggle was a way of life for Sylvester Stallone for many years.  But he was willing to suffer through barely making ends meet , so long as he could keep taking shots at roles, regardless of the size.  He was willing to go through hell so long as there was the potential to fulfill his dream of making it in Hollywood. 

“Life Is An Opponent That Never Stops Punching, So You Better Never Stop Punching Back.”

– sylvester stallone –

The Inspiration Behind The Inspiration

Fortunately, his trials and tribulations would not last forever.  One day after witnessing a boxing match between a virtually no-name boxer (his name was actually Chuck Wepner) who went head to head with the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali, a brilliant idea came to him.  

It is said, that after he watched this man take on the champ Ali, even knocking him down at one point, and almost going the entire distance of the fight with him, he became inspired by what he felt was a metaphor for life. 

In fact, he became so inspired by what he saw, that when he got back home from the fight, he locked himself up in his 8ft x9ft apartment for over three days straight.  And when he finally came out of his apartment, he had completed the script that would eventually come to be known as ‘Rocky’.

One Shot, One Opportunity

But just having that script in hand didn’t mean he was fated to overnight success.  No, there were still more obstacles that had to be overcome.  The script was written, but Sylvester didn’t yet have a backer/producer for it. 

However, his big opportunity would crystalize after wrapping up a casting call for a film he was auditioning for. A film that was being directed and produced by two notable film makers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler.  Now, he didn’t make the cut during that audition. But, before leaving the set that night he seized his moment while having conversation with Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. And it was during that conversation that he boldly mentioned his interests in writing along with some of his ideas to the film producers. 

As fate would have it, they became intrigued enough in what he was saying, that they invited him to stop by their office at a later time so they could learn more about him and his ideas.  And as they say…the rest is history.

Nothing’s Over Till It’s Over

Sylvester Stallone’s script one over the two film makers, and they decided they would buy the script from him so they could make it into a movie.  They offered Sylvester Stallone upwards of $300,000, which was the most money he had ever been offered, let alone seen at that time.  But, he knew that if his script would become a success, he would forever regret not going for the lead role.  So, he made it a point to star in his own film, realizing that this would be his true shot at achieving success. 

So, after much negotiating, he would eventually decline upwards of $360,000 for the sale of his script alone.   He eventually won out in his negotiations and sold his script for $25,000, but on the condition that he would get to star in the lead role.

Success Ethos

Sylvester Stallone’s calculated risk to forgo what was a huge pay out at the time for his script, has made all the difference in his ultimate success.  The Rocky movie has since gone on to become a smash hit, along with a series of related cascading block buster successes. Successes that Sylvester Stallone proclaims he could have never imagined in wildest dreams.

And it all happened because he had a success ethos of never settling.   It happened because he was willing to embrace the pain and suffering of being without, until his vision was realized.

He was willing to take on the hits of life, and willing to lose it all to strike it big.  And it is because he had a vision of what he wanted, and stuck to it till the end, that he realized his vision, got everything he wanted, and struck it big.  Sylvester Stallone’s now has one of the most sizeable net worth’s in Hollywood, and he is arguably one of the most successful and well-known actors of all time.

Stallone’s Lasting Impact: A Creative Force Beyond Rocky

Sylvester Stallone’s journey didn’t end with Rocky’s triumph. His relentless creativity and ability to evolve have cemented his legacy as a multifaceted artist. Beyond acting, Stallone proved himself a visionary writer and director, crafting stories that resonate globally.

In 1978, he directed and starred in Paradise Alley, a gritty drama about three brothers in 1940s New York, inspired by his own challenging upbringing. Though overshadowed by Rocky, it showcased his knack for authentic storytelling.

Decades later, he created The Expendables (2010–present), a franchise he wrote, directed, and starred in, uniting action icons like Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren to revive the genre for a new era. His directorial work on Creed (2015) earned critical acclaim, proving his storytelling prowess at 69.

Stallone’s creativity extends beyond film. An avid painter, he has showcased his vibrant artwork in galleries like the Russian State Museum, using art to express emotions too raw for the screen. His 2005 book, Sly Moves, outlines his fitness philosophy, blending physical discipline with mental toughness, inspiring fans to adopt his work ethic.

At 78, Stallone continues to innovate, starring in the hit series Tulsa King (2022–present), a modern crime drama that highlights his adaptability. His lesson? Success demands versatility and courage to explore new crafts. So, take a page from Stallone: dedicate time to a passion project outside your comfort zone, like writing or art, to unlock new potential.

That said, his enduring impact shows that true success is about creating a legacy that evolves with time.

Video Credit via Mulligan Brothers

Related: Stallone’s Net Worth

Final Thoughts on Stallone’s Story of Success

The great thing about the Sylvester Stallone success story is that it provides us with hope for what is possible.  It also provides us with a road map of what achieving success, more often than not, looks like. 

So, use his experiences to prepare yourself for what you must do to achieve your dreams.  Let them prepare you for the challenging road ahead. And may they give you hope that the vision you glorify in your mind will come to pass.

sylvester stallone success story

Lastly, allow this story to help you believe that if you push hard enough, and strive long enough, you will eventually win.

Till next time,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoyed this Success Story, then you’ll also enjoy these inspiring Sylvester Stallone Quotes, or even these extremely Motivational Rocky Quotes

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THE DAVID GOGGINS SUCCESS STORY

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David Goggins Story

David Goggins is a former Navy SEAL and USAF Tactical Air Control Party member who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is also a world-renowned ultramarathon runner and triathlete. But what makes David so remarkable isn’t just his accomplishments in the military or the fitness world; it’s his incredible story of overcoming adversity.

“Mental Toughness Is A Lifestyle.”

– david goggins –

In this story, we will take a closer look at David’s life story and showcase how he became one of the fittest men on Earth. By understanding the steps he took to become successful, we can better apply his principles to our own lives and hopefully achieve our own slice of greatness.

With that said, if you’re ready to learn about the mindset of one of the hardest men alive, let’s dive right in to this David Goggins Story.

THE DAVID GOGGINS STORY OF SUCCESS

david goggins story of success

How It Began | David Goggins Story

David Goggin’s early life was challenging. He endured a violent and controlling father, a family divorce, and poverty, all by the age of 8 years old. These early adversities ended up manifesting as health problems such as memory and attention issues as well as a stutter.

Despite having a rough home life in his youth, David had longed for a fresh start after he moved to Indiana with his mother and brother. He longed for a place where he felt safe. Nevertheless, Goggins did not anticipate the pain he would suffer during his first days at school, where he would eventually get bullied because of his unique appearance, and because and he didn’t know how to read.

Goggins didn’t appreciate the bullying, and as a result, he began skipping classes in order to escape the ridicule that was constantly lobbed at him by his classmates.

Needless to say, Goggin’s youth was not filled with sunshine and rainbows. It was a very tough and challenging way to grow up. Fortunately, those hardships didn’t break him, and instead made him stronger in the long run.

Once Goggins completed his schooling, he gave the military a shot. Unfortunately, after a failed attempt to join the Air Force’s as an elite pararescue team member due to sickle cell anemia, he became defeated for a very long time. But, Goggins persisted.

Despite the diagnosis, he refused to give up. “I wanted to feel something besides defeat. I wanted to just go the distance,” David said.

Eventually, he made his way into the Air Force, but as part of a different squad. This time around he made the cut to become part of the United States Air Force Tactical Control Party. But after a servicing for 5 years, he left the Air Force.

From a Nobody to a Somebody

After his 5 year stint in the Air Force, David found himself barely able to make ends meet. He worked as an exterminator, ate tons of junk food, and gained lots of weight. David’s life started to spiral in a downward direction and he began living an uninspired life.

Fortunately, David watched a documentary about the Navy SEALS one day, and found something to be inspired by. The challenge of becoming a seal, and having the mental and physical toughness of the program participants, gave David something to aspire towards.

Serendipitously, that show inspired Goggins to want to do more with his life. It inspired him to strive to become something more, something great. He was tired of being a nobody who just watched the lives of other great people on TV.

So, in was in that sudden moment, that he had found the motivation that would help him go on to lose more than 100 pounds in under three months. He discovered a newfound fire and energy. Thus, he channelled his driven to finally get fit and apply for the program.

He reflects that “It made me reflect on my fears, my insecurities. I saw real men who were overcoming adversity.”

Forward March

In order to get in shape, David joined a gym. Despite his intentions, he was unable to run more than a quarter mile on his first day. As a result of his psychological defeat, Goggins returned home crying and turning to food for emotional support.

Despite the minor regression, this man wasn’t the same as the person who was unmotivated to grow.

So, he got back on his proverbial horse and kept moving forward. He began to cycle and heavily restructured and restricted his diet and successfully brought his weight down to be able to apply for the Navy SEALS within 3 months.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The Turning Point

David Goggins held strong to his commitment and entered Navy SEAL training. Despite tremendous progress and growth in the program, he particularly struggled with the infamous “hell week”, an intense week-long training session where SEAL candidates are forced to move with minimal sleep and food.

David Goggins Success Story

Despite failing this grueling week the first time around due to a case of pneumonia, and the second time due to a stress fracture injury, he responded by completing two successful “hell weeks” in the same year. This shattered his limiting beliefs around his performance abilities and further fueled his progress.

This was the lightbulb moment for Goggins where he realized he needed to acquire a strong mental toughness in order to maintain a strong physical toughness. He dedicated himself to training both the body and the mind from this point forward.

His career in the military lasted for two decades and he received the “Top Enlisted Man” award for his efforts.

Related: David Goggins Quotes

Challenges Along the Way

One of the most challenging moments in Goggin’s life was when a helicopter, containing several of Goggins’ close friends inside, crashed during Operation Red Wings in 2005.

He used this devastating tragedy as fuel to drive him further. He raised money by long-distance running and donated the proceeds to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which grants educational scholarship opportunities to students who had lost their parents in the special operations sector. He has raised over 2 million dollars for charity.

David became an ultra-marathoner as a way to add momentum to his tragedies. The Badwater 135 is a grueling 135-mile run beginning in Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, and ending at an elevation of 8,374 feet. To add to the excitement, it takes place in July, when Death Valley is at its hottest.

His qualification race was a one-day 100-mile run in San Diego, which he completed in 19 hours with little preparation. Upon finishing, he spent an entire year training for the Badwater 135 as hard as he could. Taking fifth place, he completed it in 30 hours.

He would next face challenges with his personal health. When David’s doctor examined him for a routine checkup in 2010, he found a birth defect called an atrial septal defect. Due to a hole between two of the atrial chambers of the athlete’s heart, the organ wasn’t able to operate at its maximum capacity. He was also struggling with progressive muscle weakness and wasting.

In order to save his life, David began to work intensely on rehabilitating himself. With consistent daily stretching, his body began to heal itself and realign. His heart also had time to restore and grow stronger.

Related: The Warrior Mindset

Lessons Learned

According to Goggins, his success is attributed to his “day one, week one” mentality. Every day he lives as though it was the first day of his new job. According to him, even though this mindset rubs people the wrong way, it works and makes him show up completely and with integrity.

He has also learned to never get comfortable with his accomplishments. He has remained hungry for more and believes that if you don’t continually challenge yourself, then you will never be satisfied with life.

David Goggins states that every day is an opportunity for achievement, and he doesn’t feel complete unless he has strived for that. His discipline is internally motivated, and unshakeable by any external standards. He aims to hold his standards higher than others do in order to achieve what others deem is impossible.

“Never Let People Who Choose The Path Of Least Resistance Steer You Away From Your Chosen Path Of Most Resistance.”

– david goggins –

One of the most important things that David Goggins learned over his years of training and competing is the importance of mental toughness. This was a lesson that he learned early on when he first joined the Navy SEALs, but it has stuck with him throughout his life.

Goggins believes that strength of mind is what sets people apart from each other in their ability to accomplish goals and achieve success.

Related: David Goggins Net Worth

Heavy To Hardcore

If you have a few minutes to spare, here’s a short video that provides additional insight on the mindset that helped David Goggin’s go from being over 300 pounds to becoming a hardcore Navy Seal.

Video Credit: CNBC Make It (Subscribe)

Goggins Pro Tip:

Goggins developed a unique mental strategy called the “Cookie Jar,” where he mentally revisits past accomplishments and hardships to draw strength during moments of extreme challenge, helping him push through ultramarathons and other grueling endeavors.

This concept is detailed in his book ‘Can’t Hurt Me’, and you can apply it to your life today to help you push through some of your toughest life challenges, like Goggins.

Final Thoughts

David Goggins story is an inspiration for all of us who are looking to challenge ourselves mentally and physically, and change our lives in the process. He has now shared his story with many people around the world and has inspired an entire community of individuals to challenge and push themselves to achieve the impossible.

These days, David Goggins also shares his message with people all over the world through his motivational speaking business. His message motivates people to get off their butts and get disciplined. But more importantly, he uses his platform to help people push their limits and become stronger.

david goggins life story quote

With that being said, we hope you learned a few of those strong life lessons from this David Goggins story. Namely, that if you want to achieve our full potential, we have to rid our lives of laziness and stop making excuses for our lot in life.

Till then,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoyed this David Goggins Story of success and hardcore persistence and overcoming adversity, then you’ll love this inspiring article on the true story of Rudy.

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THE JIM ROHN STORY OF SUCCESS

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Jim Rohn Story

Who is Jim Rohn? He was one of the most influential personalities as well as one of the greatest speakers of the late 20th and early 21st century. He was also known to many as America’s foremost business philosopher, and a rags-to-riches multi-millionaire who helped countless others achieve meaningful and significant success in their lives. His heyday in business as an entrepreneur and motivational speaker was in the 80’s and 90’s, whereby he influenced many of the greats of the business and self-development world, like Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Darren Hardy, and many more.

“We Can Have More Than We’ve Got Because We Can Become More Than We Are.”

– jim rohn –

Not surprisingly, his wisdom and success insights persist to this day. As such, we’ve decided to strengthen his legacy and shine a brighter light on his story and his life-changing wisdom by publishing this Jim Rohn Story of Success.

Every high achiever and successful person leaves clues as to what helped them reach their success. Just as every success story also leaves a blueprint that others can learn from and follow, if they look for it . It is for this reason we choose to highlight high achievers and success icons like Jim Rohn. That said, if you’re ready learn more about Jim Rohn, his legacy, and the many success gems his story undoubtedly contains, let’s dive right in:

THE JIM ROHN STORY OF SUCCESS

Jim Rohn Story of Success

Early Days

Jim Rohn, a.k.a. Emanuel James Rohn, was born in Yakima Washington in 1930. His parents were from Odessa, Russia, but after being selected through a migration lottery system, they won the opportunity to migrate to America. Starting out initially in Washington, Rohn’s family would eventually move to Caldwell Idaho.

In essence, Jim Rohn grew up as farm boy in small farm town of about 5,000 people. His family was not rich, but they got by, by working the land.

Rohn attended public school, and after graduating high school he eventually made his way to college. But, after one year of college, he decided he was smart enough and so decided to quit. Dropping out of college was a mistake he would come to regret years later.

After dropping out, he was ambitious and willing to work hard, so he joined the work force. Three years later he eventually started a family. He got married and had two children.

He worked at Sears and earned a weekly paycheck of $57, which would be valued around $631 per week today. Put another way, he was only making around $32,000 per year, which by today’s standards would place him just barely above the poverty threshold for a family of four.[1]

Needless to say, Rohn got himself into a precarious situation early on. Having started a family, and not having an education to find himself a better paying job, Rohn’s life became extremely challenging.

He started to fall back on his bills and his promises, and was increasingly becoming discouraged. He knew his life and his financial situation were getting especially desperate when one random day, when Girl Scouts came to his door trying to sell him cookies, and he couldn’t bare telling the girls scouts the truth as to why he didn’t want to buy their cookies; because he couldn’t afford them.

Disgusted with himself and his situation, Jim Rohn knew that something had to change. Not knowing what to change or how to change, he became open to learning and open to opportunity.

Turning It All Around

Around the age of 25 is when Jim Rohn’s fortune would begin to change. He happened to came across a man by the name of Earl Schoaff while attending a lecture a friend of his invited him to. Earl Schoaff was an extremely successful business man who’s lifestyle and charming personality caught the eye of the young Jim Rohn.

In fact, Jim was so inspired by Schoaff that he often thought to himself that he would give anything to be like him. And just a few months later, he managed to get personally acquainted with Earl Schoaff who eventually took a liking to him.

Shortly after Schoaff would offer Rohn a job, and Rohn jumped at the opportunity to begin working with his new mentor at a nutritional supplement company known as Abundavita.[2]

Jim Rohn appreciated the job that Schoaff gave him, but it was the relationship and the philosophy that Schoaff bestowed upon him that truly helped him turn it all around.

Schoaff introduced Jim Rohn to the uncommon thought, that he could be more than he was.

Thus, Rohn would go on to work with Earl Schoaff for the next 6 years until he passed, learning everything he could about the fundamentals of living successfully, becoming more valuable to the marketplace, and ultimately how to be both wealthy and happy.

And as fate would have it, those fundamentals worked for Jim Rohn. Not only did he manage to turn his whole life around by increasing his income as a powerhouse salesman, but he would eventually go on to make himself a small fortune in this new business venture.

Related: How To Get Rich With a Normal Job

Making It Big

Jim Rohn made his first million in the vitamin supplements business by the age of 31. And it was this success that eventually led him to move on to greener pastures in Beverly Hills, CA.

It was around this time that he would get on a different life track that would help him solidify his legacy. After giving a speech at a Rotary Club about his success story, people fell in love with his story, charm, and electrifying success insights.[3]

He started to receive more and more invitations to share his story, and eventually businesses started offering him money to deliver it due to the positive motivating affect it was having on their sales people.

Eventually, Jim Rohn saw the opportunity that laid before him with this new found demand in his speeches, and decided to start his own speaking business in the self-development industry. He named the company ‘Adventures in Achievement’, and the rest was history, as he quickly became one of the most in-demand and distinguished leaders of the motivational and self-development industry.

As a self-development and motivational speaker he gave seminars all over the world, sharing his story, and the principles of prosperity and success that he learned under his mentor. In addition to this, he also generously shared the many success insights he acquired during his own experiences in business, which eventually allowed him to amass millions of dollars many times over.

Accolades & Achievements

Here are just a few of the accolades that Jim Rohn managed to achieve during his lifetime….

  • National Speakers Association CPAE Award
  • The Master of Influence Award
  • He’s Authored Over 17 Different Educational Products
  • Mentor of Mentors (Leaders Influenced By Jim Rohn)
    • Tony Robbins
    • Mark Victor Hansen
    • Jack Canfield
    • Brian Tracy
    • Mark Hughes
    • Todd Smith
    • Les Brown
    • Chris Widener
    • T. Harv Eker
    • Darren Hardy

Jim Rohn’s Enduring Legacy

Jim Rohn’s enduring legacy is not just experienced by the people he’s influenced, or the books he wrote, his legacy also lives on in the numerous speeches he gave that have been recorded and released in both audio and visual form.

These days, with a bit of digging, anybody can access some of the most popular and insightful seminars he gave on how to achieve success and live an exceptional life. And the great thing is, much of it (not all) can be consumed for free via YouTube.

Most Popular Jim Rohn YouTube Videos:

That said, Below is a small collection of the top five most impactful and in demand Jim Rohn YouTube videos. If you’ve never heard him speak, give one of these videos just a few minutes of your time. Not only will you acquire a few powerful success secrets that can improve your life, but you’ll quickly come to see why he’s considered one of the greatest speaker’s of all-time. Enjoy!

Work On Yourself | Jim Rohn

This Jim Rohn Video has managed to accrue tons of views in just a few short months. As such, you can bet that it is one of his best speeches. It’s a short video, but worth every minute. If you’re pressed for time, give this video a shot.

Video Credit: Healthy Mindset (Subscribe Here)

Diseases of Attitude | Jim Rohn

This is one of Jim Rohn’s most powerful speeches. It’s only 26 minutes and 33 seconds long, so be sure to watch it, or more importantly, listen to it. This short speech can change your whole life, so whatever you do, don’t skip over this video.

Video Credit: Inspiring Change Everyday (Subscribe Here)

Jim Rohn YouTube Video | Time Is Valuable

This is another powerful motivational speech of Jim Rohn’s. It’s rife with life lessons and wise words on how to better manage your time, appreciate time, so you can become a better manager of your life and as a result, your success. On top of this, it’s also one of the best Jim Rohn YouTube videos to just have play in the background, with it’s great audio quality.

Video Credit: Motivation Madness (Subscribe Here)

Success Ethos | The Jim Rohn Success Story

So how did Jim Rohn become so successful? Based on what we know of his story, our assessment as to how Jim Rohn achieved his success comes down to a handful of observations.

who is jim rohn

The first thing that helped Jim Rohn get on track towards achieving greater success, was the self-belief that his mentor helped him acquire. His association will Earl Schoaff opened his eyes to the very real possibility that he could actually become more than he was. In short, Schoaff helped him believe in himself and believe in success.

This new self-belief was the foundation for the next key to the puzzle. Jim Rohn was able to achieve staggering success because of his receptiveness to learning. He never would have discovered the next level success he achieved for himself had he not resigned himself to needing to learn something new, because what he knew up until the point he met his mentor wasn’t working.

The next thing that helped Jim Rohn achieve so much success was his commitment to self-development. Jim Rohn committed to becoming a better version of himself. He read all the books he could get his hands on; he learned as much as he could about sale, people skills, story telling, business, history, etc.. All what he learned made all the difference in how he presented himself, and influenced others.

Lastly, we believe that one of the biggest factors in Rohn’s success trajectory stemmed from his passion to help people. Jim Rohn knew that service to many, lead to greatness. As such, much of his energy was focused on adding as much value as he possibly could towards improving the lives of others. And the result was…. his ability to make a fortune many times over and a supersized legacy.

Related Success Quotes

Here are a few of Jim Rohn’s most popular quotes related to famous and effective success ethos:

1. “We can have more than we’ve got because we can become more than we are.” – Jim Rohn

2. “Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.” – Jim Rohn

3. “Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you can make a living, but if you work hard on yourself you’ll make a fortune.” – Jim Rohn

4. “Success is not to be pursued, it is to be attracted by the person you become.” – Jim Rohn

5. “How do you deserve a fortune? Render fortunes of service.” – Jim Rohn

Related: Jim Rohn Quotes For Success

Jim Rohn’s Net Worth

If you’ve ever wondered how rich Jim Rohn actually became after inspiring so many people across the world, we got you covered. Below we’re going to provide you with how much he was worth upon his death, how much his money would be worth had it all been placed in a bank, and just for comparison, also invested in the SP500.

That said, in 2009, experts estimated Jim Rohn’s net worth at roughly $500 million at the time of his death.[4] However, if one were to take into account inflation and the performance of the markets from December 2009 till today, his net worth would be substantially larger.

Assuming Jim Rohn invested his money into safe investments that merely kept up with inflation, his wealth would be approximately $743 million today. However, if Jim Rohn’s family placed his entire fortune in the SP500 in 2009, his net worth would be over $2.5 billion in today.

Related: The Science of Getting Rich

Final Thoughts

This Jim Rohn story was created to highlight the success journey that was taken by Mr. Rohn, which allowed him to achieve massive success, and helped him cement his legacy as one of the most influential motivational speakers and self-development icons of all-time.

We’ve provided his most viewed and inspiring videos, and uncovered the success ethos that guided Jim Rohn in his becoming the legend he is and always will be. Here they are again to answer the question as to how Jim Rohn became successful:

Self-Belief | Receptivity to Learning | Commitment to Growth | Service to Others

Now that you have these handful of Jim Rohn success insights, go forth and apply them to improve your life.  And remember…

“For Things To Change, You Have to Change. For Things To Get Better, You Have to Get Better.”

– jim rohn –

Till you reach your aims,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoyed this story about Jim Rohn then we have a hunch you’ll enjoyed this collection of powerful success stories.

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THE ED MYLETT STORY OF SUCCESS

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ed mylett success story

Ed Mylett is a highly successful business leader, peak performance coach, and is one of the best motivational speakers in the world. He’s also the best-selling author of ‘The Power of One More‘, and a self-made multimillionaire who made it on to the Forbes 50 Wealthiest Under 50 list. So, considering the impressive accomplishments of this globally recognized entrepreneur, we will be diving into how he managed to achieve so much in this Ed Mylett Story of Success.

Without Failure, There Would Be No Success. You Need One To Achieve The Other.”

Just like Ed, we too believe that success requires failure. It’s why we research and publish the encouraging success stories of so many icons and high achievers, to clearly show that failure is a part of the process of success.  In addition to this, we also believe every successful person leaves a blueprint of success that others can use for their own benefit. So, if you’re ready to see what you can learn from Ed Mylett’s story of success, then let’s dive right in.

THE ED MYLETT SUCCESS STORY

ed mylett story of success

Early Days

Ed Mylett was born in 1971 in Diamond Bar, California. He grew up in a loving family with three younger sisters, but it was rather dysfunctional family, considering his father was both an alcoholic and a drug addict.[1]

Ed spent most of his youth feeling on edge and uncertain around his father, not knowing which version he was speaking and relating too when he was around; the drunk and unpredictable father, or the sober and loving one.

For nearly 15 years, he lived in a state of uncertainty around his father, until one day when his father finally decided to get sober. Ed survived his childhood, but growing up with an alcoholic father had an indelible impact on his psyche. In fact, for many years he felt ashamed of where he came from. He had little to no self-confidence growing up, and was that little guy who would get bullied at school.

Fortunately, Ed Mylett found sports, and happened to be really good at them, especially baseball. In fact, he was so good at the sport that he would go on to play Division I Baseball for the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Major-League Dreams

Baseball would become everything for Ed. In fact, he had big dreams of playing major-league baseball one day. While earning his degree at the University of The Pacific, Ed would go on to become an NCAA All-American not once, not twice, but three times.[2]

He also had one of the best battering averages on the team, and was a NCAA leader in stolen bases. Baseball was everything for Mylett, until he one day he was hit in his right leg by an errant pitch.

The injury from the pitch would eventually grow into a tumor, which then grew into a catastrophic injury that required the removal of small chunks from his calf. This injury, and the subsequent surgeries that it required, eventually lead to the end of his baseball career and some of his most cherished dreams.

Devastation to Transformation

After his dreams were shattered, Mylett would eventually finish up his education at the University of the Pacific. But shortly after, he ended up moving back into his parent’s house.

He didn’t have a job, and was feeling aimless. However, his father decided to intervene in the young Mylett’s seemingly hopeless situation.

One day after finishing up one of his AA mettings, Mylett’s father encouraged him to go to a job he set up for him at an orphanage called the McKinley Group Home for Boys. Mylett went to the job, and became a role model to the underprivileged and formally neglected boys who lived at this orphanage.

This experience would become a transformational one for Ed Mylett, as he’d learned what it truly meant to serve other people. He learned how go from an ego-driven athlete to a loving role-model and father-like-figure to a handful of boys, boys who desperately needed someone in their lives who loved, cared, and believed in them.

It was this experience that helped transform Mylett into the person and leader that would eventually help him achieve massive success he would go on to achieve in the business world.

Big Brother to Big Business

Ed Mylett would eventually stop working at the Orphanage, but the experience and life lessons he learned while there helped pave the way for his future endeavors and achievements.

In 1992, Mylett joined the World Financial Group (WFG). He leveraged the competitiveness and laser-like focus he acquired as a collegiate athlete, along with the heart of gold he acquired while working as a counselor at the McKinley Group Home for Boys, and his career took off.

This winning combination of being driven to succeed and win, while genuinely wanting to help other people succeed, assisted Mylett in growing multiple teams of highly committed individuals who took the financial services industry by storm.

Ed Mylett’s ability to inspire other leaders led to his swift professional advancement at WFG. After a few short years of growing his book of business, Mylett would soon become the company’s youngest CEO Marketing Director.

Soon thereafter, he would go on to rise to the level of Senior Executive Vice Chairman, and then become the Director of Field Leadership for the company. And in the process he accumulated for himself massive levels of financial success.

Next Level Success

Not one to rest on his laurels, Ed Mylett would eventually move on to leverage his skills sets in a different way. Initially hesitant to give up his peaceful and private life, a conversation with Tony Robbins nudge him make his move.

Ed Mylett Story of Success Quote

So, he decided to become a peak performance coach, motivational speaker, and author to help other people learn how to believe in themselves, improve their mindsets, and achieve the next level success they’ve always dreamed about.

Mylett also runs a highly successful podcast, the ‘Ed Mylett Show’, where he shares many of his best success insights with the world, and interviews other success icons to help share their inspiration and insights as well.

In just a few short years, Mylett has grown his online audience to nearly 4 million followers, and growing. In addition to this, he’s also managed to continually growing his fortune.

These days he has own private jet, multiple residences, many fancy cars, and a massive net worth. But even more importantly, Ed Mylett has acquired a true passion for helping people adopt and develop a champion’s mindset and achieve more success in their lives by believing they can.

Related: Ed Mylett Net Worth

Success Ethos | Ed Mylett Story

So what is Ed Mylett’s secret of success? Well, we believe as Ed Mylett does as well, that much of his success comes from his ability to connect with and influence people.

Ed Mylett has a keen ability to be present with people, and he has a level of energy and certainty when he communicates that has undoubtedly helped him inspire and persuade people.

So, in a nutshell, much of his success can be attributed to his strong communication skills, his ability to inspire people to believe in themselves, and a strong work ethic, which he acquired from his time as an athlete.[3]

That said, here’s some of Ed Mylett’s own takes on what it takes to succeed at the level he has:

1. “What you envision in your mind, how you see yourself, and how you envision the world around you is of great importance, because those things become your focus.” – Ed Mylett

2. “I think the biggest shift in our lives, the things that make us the happiest is that when somebody helps us identify our natural giftedness.” – Ed Mylett

3. “Sustainable success is not built overnight. Real success is the result of consistent, sustained effort.” – Ed Mylett

4. “Show me your schedule and I’ll show you your priorities.” – Ed Mylet

5. “Life’s going to give you what you’ll fight for.” – Ed Mylett

Read More: Ed Mylett Quotes

Final Thoughts

There you have it, Ed Mylett’s story of success. We covered his unique beginning as an unconfident boy learning to cope with a parent who was an alcoholic, to then discovering life changing leadership skills that he never would have learned had his father not been attending AA meetings, to then taking those skills he learned helping kids believe in themselves, to then helping countless others believe in themselves in business and life.

Indeed, we’ve come full circle, with his story clearly demonstrating that without certain failures, there would be no success.

That said, we hope you enjoyed this success story, and learned a thing or two about how you can go about finding a similar level of success in your endeavors and in your life.

Till you reach your aims,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoyed our Ed Mylett story, then you’ll likely enjoy reading about the success stories of fellow business leaders and coaches like Grant Cardone or Tony Robbins.

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THE COLONEL SANDERS SUCCESS STORY

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Colonel Sanders who officially went by the name of Colonel Harland David Sanders, was the American businessman who founded and popularized the famed brand known as Kentucky Fried Chicken. His story is unique, and is one that every entrepreneur or dream chaser should know about.

We believe success leaves clues, and Colonel Sander’s story not only does that, but it also provides a level of encouragement that can help just about anybody get through the struggles we all face as we strive to achieve our aims.

So, with that being said, if you’re ready to learn and be inspired by one of the best failure to success stories of all time, then let’s dive into this epic Colonel Sanders Story of Success.

THE COLONEL SANDERS STORY

colonel sanders success story

Early Days

Colonel Harland David Sanders was born September 9, 1890 in Henryville, Indiana. He was the oldest of three brothers and was born into a family that struggled to make ends meet.

His father passed away when he was just six years old, and his mother worked long hours in a tomato canning factory. Harland was no stranger to hard work as he would become a farmhand to help out the household financially at the age of 10.

When 7th grade rolled around Harland would drop out of school to go work off of a farm. Thus, at the age of 13 he left home to achieve his fortune working various odd jobs. When things weren’t working out financially, he decided to join the military.

So, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, even though he did so by faking his age. Colonel Harland Sanders would serve one year before getting honorably discharged.

An Early Career That Was All Over The Map

Once Good Ole Harland Sanders got out of the military, he would go on to take countless jobs in a variety of different fields. Most of the jobs he’d lose would be due to quarrels with others or just plain old misfortune.

Over the years he’d flit from job to job in a manner and frequency that would even impress a Millennial. Here’s a snapshot of just a portion of his job-hopping ways:

  • Worked For The Railroad Company (Lost His Job Due To Fighting).
  • Legal Career (Lost His Job After Attempting To Beat His Own Client With A Chair).
  • Life Insurance Salesman (lost this job due to insubordination).
  • Life Insurance Salesman (Lost This Job Due To Insubordination).
  • Started A Ferry Boat Company (Succeeded And Cashed It Out).
  • Took A Job As The Secretary Of The Chamber Of Commerce (Resigned Within A Year).
  • Started A Lamp Manufacturing Business (It Failed).
  • Took A Job As Salesman For The Michelin Tire Company (Was Eventually Laid Off).
  • Landed A Job Running A Service Station (Station Closed Due To The Economy).
colonel sanders story quote

Positive Change, For A While

Things started to change for Colonel Sanders when he hit 40. He would eventually land another job working for a service station out of Kentucky. This time, he worked for Shell, and was allowed to live their rent free so long as he paid a portion of his sales to the company.

And, because he had a living quarters within this station, Sanders started to experiment with offering up his delicious chicken to customers. The demand for his meals grew so large, that he eventually opened up a restaurant in the station to serve all the interested customers.

Sanders’ popularity grew so fast within the community, that he practically became a household name locally. Everybody knew Sanders, especially because he did volunteer work delivering babies locally, that and because everyone loved the delicious meals his restaurant served. And before he knew it, his generosity and popularity helped him earn the title of colonel by the Governor of Kentucky.

With his restaurant business and reputation humming along, Sanders would seek to expand his empire. He purchased a hotel in North Carolina, but then just a few short months later, his popular restaurant in Kentucky would burn down.

Sanders would go on to rebuild it, but the economy was starting to become severely impacted by WWII, which would eventually force him to close his North Carolina hotel.

Refiring Instead of Retiring

When Sanders hit the age of 52 he started to dabble with the idea of franchising his secret recipe. He would call his perfected recipe, “Kentucky Fried Chicken”. Unfortunately, his idea to franchise his recipe didn’t receive the warm welcome he was hoping for. In fact, his recipe would get rejected 1,009 times before anyone warmed up to the idea.

But, he persisted and eventually found a few converts he and there, and would eventually negotiate around 4 cents for every chicken sold that used his recipe.

Unfortunately, at the age of 65, Sanders’ hit restaurant in Kentucky would eventually lose steam. As such, he sold it. Sanders was now forced into early retirement with only a small amount of savings and a measly social security check to live off of.

But, believing that every failure could be a stepping stone to something better, he decided to use his new found circumstances as an opportunity to really push his recipe franchising idea into overdrive. So, he hit the road and did what he did best aside from making phenomenal chicken, he started selling his recipe.

And as the saying goes, the rest is history. Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise would explode in popularity and demand. He got the funding he’d been looking for and expanded his franchise all over the country, and then the world.

Avalanches of success flowed the Colonel’s way, and before he knew it he had over 600 franchises selling his chicken all over the world. This new found success allowed Colonel Sanders to finally slow down at the ripe age of 73. So, he sold his company and turned him into a multi-millionaire overnight.

Success In His Own Words

Before we wrap up this Colonel Sanders story of success and achievement, here are a few of his own insights on success. Consider these quotes his very own advice on what it takes to succeed in the world of business, as he has:

1. “One has to remember that every failure can be a stepping stone to something better.” – Colonel Sanders

2. “Hard work beats all the tonics and vitamins in the world.” – Colonel Sanders

3. “I’ve only had two rules. Do all you can and do it the best you can.” – Colonel Sanders

4. “I just say the moral out of my life is don’t quit at age 65, maybe your boat hasn’t come in yet. Mine hadn’t.” – Colonel Sanders

5. “Wealth, like happiness, is never attained when sought after directly. It comes as a byproduct of providing a useful service.” – Colonel Sanders

Read More: Colonel Sanders Quotes

Final Thoughts

Th Colonel Sanders success story demonstrates how someone can flit around from job to job and still eventually find their groove and leave a legacy. Sanders’ story also shows that hard work and diligence eventually pays off, regardless of your age, if you press on long enough.

But most importantly, Colonel Sanders’ story highlights how it’s possible to continually turn your life around, and go from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm, and that there is a fantastic reward that awaits those who through sheer will and persistence, keep striving for their goals.

Colonel Sanders is indeed an icon, a legend, and yes even a massive failure…. but that’s exactly why he’s also a massive success.

Till you reach your aims,

STRIVE

PS – If you enjoy this Colonel Sanders Success Story, then chances are you’ll also enjoy these handful of motivational stories.

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