To overcame life’s challenges, and achieved greatness. From athletes and inventors to entrepreneurs and authors, these exceptional individuals have proven that the path to success is often paved with hardship and adversity. Let us delve into the extraordinary journeys of these individuals:
Jack Johnson; the first African American heavyweight champion, was the son of former slaves in Jim Crow South. He faced racial discrimination and relentless criticism throughout his career. Despite widespread prejudice, he stayed resilient and conquered the odds to become a legendary figure in the realm of boxing. His story serves as a reminder that greatness often requires overcoming societal barriers and pushing boundaries.
Usain Bolt; is a name that is synonymous with speed and success with a record of eight Olympic gold medals and world records in both the 100 metres and 200 metres races. He is the only sprinter to win the eight titles at three consecutive Olympics running the 100m in 9.58 seconds thus becoming the fastest man on earth. One of his biggest hurdles was his tendency to start races slowly, which often put him behind. Bolt knew he needed to improve his starts in order to reach his full potential. To overcome this obstacle, he spent countless hours practicing his starts and perfecting his form. Bolt, grew up in a modest background, facing financial hardships and limited access to proper training facilities. Nevertheless, with unparalleled determination, Bolt shattered records and became a symbol of human speed and strength.
Thomas Edison; a man renowned for his unquestionable genius, was no stranger to failure. He was born in 1847 to Samuel and Nancy Edison in Milan. He had very little formal education as a child, attending school only a few months. He was taught reading, writing, and arithmetic by his mother and he taught himself much by reading on his own. At age 12, he was totally deaf in one ear, and nearly deaf in the other. At 13, he took a job as a news boy, selling newspapers and candy on the local railroad to train passengers. With thousands of unsuccessful attempts, Edison faced countless setbacks before inventing the incandescent light bulb. His commitment to his vision is a testament that even the brightest minds must endure numerous setbacks on their road to greatness. By his mid 30s, Edison became one of the most famous men in the world with a record number of 1,093 patents (singly and jointly). He was the driving force behind such innovations as phonograph, light bulb, alkaline battery, motion picture cameras etc.
Albert Einstein; one of the most influential physicists of all time, overcame personal struggles and societal rejection to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. He was born in Germany, of a Jewish parent. As a child, he was slow to learn speech and did not begin to talk until he was three. As a young boy, his teachers initially called him slow and lazy. He wasn’t well-liked by his teachers. One of his instructors in Munich told him that nothing good would ever come out of him. Einstein’s father died believing his boy was a complete failure. At the age of 12, he taught himself geometry and by the time he left school at the age of 15, one teacher remarked that there was nothing left to teach him. After his university, he was rejected from every academic position he applied for. Despite facing obstacles, Einstein persevered and demonstrated that true brilliance lies in the ability to overcome adversity. His theories of relativity led to new ways of looking at time, space, matter, energy and gravity. The Google maps, phones and lasers are major inventions derived from his discoveries.
Jack Ma; the founder of Alibaba Group and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, experienced many failures in his life. He wanted to go to college but had trouble passing the entrance exam. On his first attempt he scored a meager 1 out of 120 possible points on the Math portion of the exam. On his second try he failed again, and barely passed on his third attempt. Upon graduation he was rejected for over a dozen positions where all of the other 24 applicants were accepted. Even after been rejected by Harvard University ten times, Ma refused to be discouraged. He got a job to teach English Language in a local University. In 1995, while visiting a friend in the United States, he got fascinated with the internet and saw an opportunity to add value and to bring the world- wide- web to China. The inspiring journey of Ma teaches us that perseverance and unwavering belief in oneself can lead to unparalleled success.
Harland Sanders: better known as Colonel Sanders, encountered countless failures before founding the Kentucky Fried Chicken at the age of 65. Sanders’ perseverance and commitment to his dream exemplify the fact that it is never too late to attain greatness. Sanders learned to cook after his father died when he was just 6.Therefore starting from early age, Sanders had to become the bread winner of the family by cooking. Later he dropped out of school in his seventh grade after getting into conflicts with his step-father to stay at the farm he was working. Holding a job was a struggle, in his 20s and 30s he had strings of failed jobs and businesses. After getting fired from dozens of jobs, Sanders started cooking chicken in his road side service station. Years later he set out to find restaurants that would franchise his secret recipe, a nickel for a chicken sold. He drove around in his car, and was rejected 1009 times before finding his first partner. It was not until 1964, that Sanders had more 600 franchised outlets for his chicken and sold his interest in the company for $2 million (today’s equivalent of $20.2 million) to a group of investors. Presently, the Kentucky Fried Chicken now known as KFC has 20,000 outlets and is in over 118 countries. Sanders encountered countless failures before founding the Kentucky Fried Chicken at the age of 65. Sanders’ perseverance and commitment to his dream exemplify the fact that it is never too late to attain greatness.
Walt Disney; was one of the most influential figures in American entertainment history. He was born in 1901 in Chicago and grew up in a modest household. Disney showed a natural talent for art from a young age, and pursued this passion throughout his life. When Disney first introduced Mickey Mouse, it was met with several rejections. It was rejected 300 times before it was accepted. Disney, the creator of the magical World of Disney, faced multiple rejections and bankruptcies before achieving his vision. His unwavering belief in his dreams in the face of adversity showcases the power of imagination and passion to change the world. He created more than 81 feature films, and hundreds of shots. He earned more than 950 honors, including 48 Academy Awards. Richard Branson; is an English businessman and the founder of Virgin Group which controls more than 400 companies in various fields. As a child he did not fare well in school. Because of his dyslexia, Branson was always trying to keep up in school. At 16, he decided to drop out of school. He later said that he was seen as the dumbest person at school. His teachers told him that he was incapable of achieving anything because of his poor academic performance.
Richard Branson: the iconic entrepreneur and founder of Virgin Group, faced numerous failures and setbacks throughout his career. However, through resilience and a relentless innovative ideas, Branson climbed the ladder of success, proving that failure is merely a stepping stone to greatness.
Oprah Winfrey; is considered the most influential woman in the world. Her interview of Michael Jackson in 1993 drew more than 100 million viewers, making it the most watched interview in television history. She was born in Mississippi in January 1954. Winfrey, the media mogul and philanthropist, endured a challenging upbringing marked by poverty and abuse. She was even fired from her first job as a news anchor. Rising above her circumstances, Winfrey became an influential figure, reminding us that resilience and inner strength can transform lives. She is currently worth over $3.5 billion.
The stories of these remarkable individuals make it evident that greatness does not come without a price. It requires courage, resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in one’s abilities. Despite facing myriad of challenges, they persevered, broke barriers, and etched their names in history. By celebrating their achievements, we not only honor their individual journeys but also inspire generations to transcend their own limitations and strive for greatness.
Pastor Oyem Ernest
Chief -in-director’s office
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