Ever feel like you’re doomed to fail?  Or maybe you’ve experienced a failure, and it is holding you back from going after your dreams and goals?

Recently, my children were watching a Dr. Seuss DVD, and during the bonus features, I learned something mind boggling: Dr. Seuss, also known as Theodor Seuss Geisel, was not praised his entire life as someone who would change the face of children’s books and be admired by people for years to come. Quite the opposite, in fact. Somehow, this information gave me an unexpected boost of confidence. If Dr. Seuss experienced failure and rejection, then it would be okay if (when) I do.

I wanted to know if there were other wildly successful people who experienced big failures, so I began to research. To my surprise, some amazing people endured serious setbacks. Imagine if they had quit? Where would our world be without these five people?

Dr. Seuss

His first manuscript was rejected nearly 30 times. However, that did not deter him. He went on to write over 60 books, and became one of the most world renowned children’s authors of all time.

Walt Disney

He once lost a job at a newspaper because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” WALT DISNEY, y’all.

Lucille Ball

You know her from I Love Lucy. You, and most everyone else in America would recognize that big smile and bright red hair anywhere. But did you know she was dismissed from an acting school for being “too shy?”

Soichiro Honda

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of his little business known as Honda Motor Company. Soichiro founded it after he was turned down for a job at Toyota. The man behind some of the best selling cars in America was rejected from Toyota.

John Lasseter

In 1983, he lost his job as an animator for Disney because he was trying to pursue his interest in computer animation. He went on to establish Pixar Animation, which was later bought by Disney.

Remember these people when you fail, or when you fear failure. If they had let failure get the best of them, the world would be missing out on such great talent. You have your own special talents and abilities; don’t let setbacks, missteps or failures permanently derail your pathway to success. Who knows, someone could be writing an article like this about YOU someday!