Overcoming Failure

George H. Mathason said, “We conquer – not in any brilliant fashion – we conquer by continuing!” The value of courage, persistence, and perseverance has rarely been illustrated more convincingly than in the life story of this man:

At age 22, he failed in business.

At age 23, he ran for the state legislature and was defeated.

At age 24, he again failed in business.

At age 25, he was elected to state legislature

At age 26, he experienced the death of his sweetheart.

At age 27, he had a nervous breakdown.

At age 29, he was defeated for the position of house speaker.

At age 31, he was defeated for the position of elector.

At age 34, he was defeated for Congress.

At age 37, he was elected to Congress.

At age 39, he was defeated for Congress.

At age 46, he was defeated for the Senate.

At age 47, he was defeated for the Vice Presidency.

At age 49, he was again defeated for the Senate.

At age 51, he was elected President of the United States.

That man was Abraham Lincoln, considered by many people to be the greatest President of the United States. Yet in a span of almost thirty years, he experienced at least 12 major failures. He persisted because he knew that success in reaching his goals would take time and dedication.