ModoEmprendedor presents 4 cases of entrepreneurs who achieved success after going through adversity and failing.
There are many good ideas that do not come to life because adversity exceeds the desire to succeed; and that is where the group separates between those who succeed and those who do not.
Where do you want stay? Do you want to be part of the success stories?
We hope these stories of successful entrepreneurs can inspire you.
Entrepreneurs who achieved success despite adversity.
1. COLONEL SANDERS (KFC)
After serving in his country’s military, he bounced from job to job; and his wife left him because she couldn’t hold a job and wanted to get rich quick.
After going through many other jobs, at age 40 he opened a service station where he cooked chicken and dishes from the southern United States. His style became famous and he opened a restaurant with 142 seats for diners.
At age 65, when their restaurant was well established, they built an interstate highway that diverted traffic away from their restaurant. So he had to sell the business at auction. This left him bankrupt.
He was left with only $105 from his social security and the “original prescription”; that she had developed in his restaurant.
He lived in his car for 2 years and was searching for a restaurant that would agree to use his recipe; was rejected 1,009 times.
In 1952, he convinced a restaurant in Utah to sell his chicken, and KFC was born. By 1964 his chickens were being sold in 600 restaurants in the United States and Canada. He subsequently sold KFC for $2 million.
2.HENRY FORD
Everyone knows how successful the Ford company is; But not many know that Henry Ford failed with two other companies before succeeding with the Ford Motor Company in 1903.
His first stumble was in 1899 when he founded, with other investors, the Detroit Automobile Company; who went bankrupt soon after. The main cause was that Henry Ford’s interest was not in selling cars but in perfecting his prototypes.
Also read: Everything you need to know before starting a business with a friend.
In 1901 they reorganized the Detroit Automobile Company and the Henry Ford Company (which would soon become Cadillac) was born; but due to differences with his investors he resigned.
Finally, in 1903 he created the Ford Motor Company, now known as FORD.
3. ELLA FITZGERALD
Known as the queen of jazz, the first lady of song, and Lady Ella. She was the winner of 13 Grammy Awards and a great international star remembered by many.
He went through situations that would have stopped anyone’s dream; but she overcame it and became the diva that she was.
At the age of 15, his mother died and to make the situation worse, that same year he suffered serious abuse from his stepfather.
He had to flee to his aunt’s house and due to the difficult situation he had to beg for money. He even carried out illegal activities for the mafia.
For this reason, she was caught by the police and taken to an orphanage home. Which soon exceeded her capacity; so she had to be transferred to a school for women near New York.
Fitzgerald decided to run away and was homeless for a while, but that was the decision that changed everything; since if he had stayed there, he would not have made his debut at the Apollo theater in 1934. his voice became famous and he began his way to the top.
4.BILL GATES
The richest man in the world and co-founder of Microsoft, went through a failure with his first company: Traf-o-data.
Traf-o-data was created to read traffic counters and generate reports. It had some success, but before long the state of Washington offered traffic processing services to cities for free; which put traf-o-data out of circulation.
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, says that although traf-o-data was not a smashing success; it was instrumental in preparing him to make Microsoft’s first product years later.
Conclusion.
It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you do; obstacles you will find everywhere. The important thing is that you identify them, prepare yourself, and understand that they are part of the path. Even, on many occasions, to overcome obstacles you must change your way of seeing things; And that’s when obstacles become opportunities.
Think that in the future, you can be part of the entrepreneurs who achieved success despite difficulties.
And remember, if you are really interested in creating your own business, you can read our book “How to create a company while working: Discover how to manage your time, manage your money and motivate yourself while creating a company and working for another” , where you will find all the information you need to found your own company, without having to leave your job.
