Abraham Lincoln was born 1902 and when he was 9 years old, his mother died. He received no more than 5 years of formal education throughout his lifetime. When he grew up, he joined politics and lost eight elections, failed in business many times, and suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times, but he didn’t. Instead, after each defeat he would pick himself up and press forward until he achieved his aspirations. He had 12 major failures before he was elected the 16th President of the United States of America.

The story of Abraham Lincoln persistance is really compelling. He faced countless defeats in his lifetime but never gave up on his dreams.

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953 he scaled the highest mountain then known to man-29,000 feet straight up He was knighted for his efforts. He even made American Express card commercials because of it! However, success doesn’t come without hard work and a sacrifices. His book , High Adventure, reveals all the challenges and trials he has to go thru before finally accomplishing the great feat.

In 1952 he attempted to climb Mount Everest, but failed. A few weeks later a group in England asked him to address its members. Hillary walked on stage to a thunderous applause. The audience was recognizing an attempt at greatness, but Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure. He moved away from the microphone and walked to the edge of the platform. He made a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain. He said in a loud voice, Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat you the next time because you’ve grown all you are going to grow… but I’m still growing!