We share the following anecdotes in the spirit
of inspiration and motivation we all need from time to time. Please enjoy
each and pass them on to others in that same spirit.
Peter Benchley was fired as a speech writer for Richard Nixon. He went
on to write the best-selling novel Jaws, selling the movie rights before the book
was even published.
Ulysses S. Grant failed as a farmer, a real estate
agent, a U.S. Customs official, and a store clerk. He went on to command
the Union armies during the Civil War and was elected the 18th
President of the United States in 1868.
Edgar Allen Poe was expelled from West Point for “gross neglect of
duty” and “disobedience of orders.” His early poems met with no success.
He later became one of America’s greatest poets, short-story writers, and
literary critics. He wrote the “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House of
Usher,” and “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
Thomas Monaghan went from being a poverty-stricken orphan ashamed of
his clothing to the multimillionaire owner of the Detroit Tigers and
America’s largest pizza chain, Domino’s.
Thomas Edison could never spell in his life, was reported to be
dyslexic, and in childhood was sent home from school because he was “too
stupid to learn anything.” He became one of the world’s greatest
inventors.
Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker
and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a firm
specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting
services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as
change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting,
leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries,
including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and
manufacturing. He can be reached at 800-886-2MAX or by visiting
http://www.AchieveMax.com.
Publication Date: Fall 2002
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