Chime School

Posts Tagged ‘success’

The recent statistics declaring that college graduates earn more income over a lifetime than non-grads is now being looked at skeptically and rightly so. The truth is, ambitious people generally make more money and are usually found among college graduates. Researchers also suggests that had these same people never attended college their earning potential would probably have remained the same.

The very same principle can be applied to individuals who discover success. It’s of little consequence as to what route they took, the end result would have remained the same. The reason is success is an expression of the Authentic cause within each unique individual. A successful state of being is not obtained by following a series of to-do’s or by taking on different roles. That is why so called success programs have only limited success and continue to disappoint so many people. Success (much like happiness) is not something you can put on a “to-do” list, but rather it is a “state of being”.

If you want a very simple take on how to become more successful just read articles or books about those whom you feel have “made it”. By considering people who satisfy your definition of success you will find there is only one cause that they all share and that is persistence.

A Short List of Successful Failures

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

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

Walt Disney
Walt began with entrepreneurial failures early in life and was forced into bankruptcy. He was also fired by a newspaper editor as he “had no good ideas.” Working against his critics, he spent 4 years in the production of “Snow White and the Sever Dwarfs” costing1.5 million dollars in 1938, almost forcing his 2nd business into bankruptcy. Since releasing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1939, the movie has earned over $400 million dollars. Walt Disney also holds the record for receiving the most Academy Awards, twenty-six, with sixty-four nominations.

Albert Einstein
In elementary school Albert performed poorly and it was suspected by his teachers that he was mentally handicapped. A lot of people felt he would never amount to anything. Later he took the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology entrance exam and failed. And his doctorial dissertation was viewed as “irrelevant and fanciful.” It was only after he published “The Special Theory of Relativity” that he gained any recognition. Einstein won a Nobel Prize in 1921 for Physics.

David Letterman
David was fired as an Indianapolis weatherman. He did land a small role on two TV programs only to loose them both when the shows were canceled early. There was another series to be called “Leave it to Dave” saddly it never made it on TV. He then had a morning show called, “The David Letterman Show,” which was canceled after four months. Finally Dave was given his own show “Late Night with David Letterman” earning five Emmy Awards and thirty nominations. Later he moved to CBS to host “The Late Show” with more than fifty nominations taking home nine Emmys awarded.

Clark Gable
For ten years Clark worked tirelessly to get noticed by Hollywood. Working in small theater productions he traveled form Ohio to Oregon. He sold ties to make a living. His first screen test for MGM was a failure and he was forced to find work as an extra in silent movies. He retreated from film and went back to theatre. He auditioned for Warner Brothers but was again turned down. They thought his ears were too big. In 1931 Gable returned to MGM Studios and recieved the role in the film “The Painted Desert” which hit it big. However, Gable let it go to his head and MGM lent him out to a smaller studio were he could hopefully find humility. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1934 for his role in “It Happened One Night.” His most famous role of course was as the male lead in “Gone With the Wind”.

Abraham Lincoln
History points to the 16th president of the U.S. as the most famous story of failure and success.

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

What success program did Lincoln or these others subscribe to? Did they follow the “7 Steps to Success” that they discovered at a success seminar? Based upon that, what does this tell us about the truthfullness of the “Law of Attraction?”

Your Success is Inevitable

The above stories reveal the dynamics of real life. They are all good examples of how everyday people eventually attain a successful state of being. The path, if you noticed is not direct. Success comes only after failure and persistence. It was their inner drive, fueled by passion that compelled these people to press forward against repeated failures and disappointments.

To sum it up, I feel actor Tony Curtis said it best. This is how he put it when interviewed for the book “Great Failures of the Extremely Successful” by Steve Young.

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

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

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

Never Stop! Persist! Never give up!

However, there does exist an aid that can ignite more of that fiery passion within you. A “Short-cut” if you will, on your path to a successful state of being. If you feel there must be a lot more to all of this, you’re right. Want to learn more?

The successful “You” awaits discovery!