Obstacles That Celebrities Overcame To Achieve Ultimate Success

Nobody would honestly that the path to success was easy but many famous celebrities had to overcome obstacles in order to achieve that very .success.  What they shared was perseverance and a strong belief in themselves.  Here are some examples that can let us all take heart in the knowledge that failures can be overcome and that you're never too old!

At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.  It was said that a producer told her she was unfit for television news.

At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.

At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.

At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a single parent living on welfare.  Her first book was turned down by 12 publishers.

At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.

At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd  jobs.

Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51.

Grandma Moses began painting in earnest at the age of 78 and is often cited as an example of an individual who successfully began a career in the arts at an advanced age.

At the age of 36, R.H. Macy launched R.H. Macy & Co., which grew to become Macy's, one of the largest department store chains in the world and host of the famous Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas".  He also declared bankruptcy at age 23.

At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.

Steven Spielberg was twice rejected by the University of California School of Cinema Arts.

Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.

Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40.

Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team in North Carolina when he tried out.  He recounted in an ESPN interview, "It was embarrassing not making that team. They posted the roster and it was there for a long, long time without my name on it."

Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first movie role until he was 46 ("As a young black actor, my character always dies!").

Tiger Woods overcame years of well-documented adversity to win his 5th Masters, his first Masters win since 2005 and his first Major win in 11 years.  After multiple surgeries, some doubted whether he would even be able to play golf again, let alone win a tournament.

Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR movie role at age 52.

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Inspirational Quotes On Travel

Travel provides many of life's great pleasures.  It expands our horizons and provides new experiences that we can't possibly obtain where we live.  Nobody every said on their deathbed that they traveled too much during their lifetime.  It's much better to spend money to collect memories as opposed to objects!

Remember, the money you pay for a trip provides immense rewards in new experiences and the joy of meeting new people.  Happy travels!

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Inspirational Quotes From Usain Bolt

Don't think about the start of the race, think about the ending.

Usain Bolt has come a long way from playing cricket and soccer with his brother as a child to becoming a Gold Medal winner in 3 consecutive Olympic Games as well as 11-time World Champion. 

His humor and love of life has everyone cheering for him, making him one of the most popular athletes of all time and someone who truly transcends his sport.  There is much that we can learn from his success and his joie de vivre.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Usain Bolt won three Gold Medals for the 100m and 200m races as well as the 4x100m relay.  He won the same races at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, giving him 9 Gold Medals in total.  Not only is he the fastest man on the planet, he may be the most popular athlete of all time.



Here are some of his many quotes about his life and career:

I was playing cricket first and my cricket coach was the one that introduced me to track and field. 

Manners is the key thing. Say, for instance, when you're growing up, you're walking down the street, you've got to tell everybody good morning. Everybody. You can't pass one person. 

Believe in your dreams and that anything is possible. Win from within.

When I went to Athens in 2004 I just went there and I didn't go through from the first round, all I wanted to do was run the 200-metre and win an Olympic gold medal once. So to be the 9-time Olympic gold medalist is a big deal, and I've worked hard to be the best.

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a determination.

I don't think limits.

When I was younger I always wanted to impress, to be good for my country, to make them feel good, and sometimes that meant I didn't focus on myself enough. I learned I had to put myself first. And it's fine because I want for me the same thing that they want for me, which is to win.

I'd like to say to all my fans out there, thanks for the support. And to all my doubters, thank you very much because you guys have also pushed me.


Kill them success and bury them with a smile!

I have just accepted certain things and it makes it easier. I accept I will get injured. I accept I cannot win every race. I work hard to decrease the chances of those things happening but I accept they will happen. A lot of people don't accept it. They get injured, they go crazy.

The sky has no limits.  Neither do I.

I know what to do and I go and execute.

Usain Bolt has been called the greatest athletes ever, by some.  That may be open to debate but there's no denying his amazing accomplishments.  He'as a beloved figure and it can be said that the world stops and looks whenever he's in a race.  We should all learn from Bolt that it's possible to succeed and have fun at the same time!

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Inspirational Quotes From Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali's passing has made everyone realize how much of an impact he had on the world during his lifetime.  Never shying away from controversy, Ali showed how staying true to yourself  and working hard can lead to a life truly well-lived and without limits.  He will be missed.

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