What about AOL? See what the CEO says below...

"If everything you do works, you are not trying hard enough."

Perseverance is no guarantee you'll succeed, but without it, it's almost guaranteed you won't"

 - Steve Case, CEO of America on- Line. 

This person:

At age 22 - Failed in business;

At age 23 - Was defeated for the State Legislature:

At age 24 - Again failed in business;

At age 25 - Was elected to the State Legislature;

At age 26 - His sweetheart died;

At age 27 - He suffered a nervous breakdown;

At age 29 - Was defeated for speaker;

At age 31 - Was defeated for elector;

At age 34 - Was defeated for Congress;

At age 37 - Was elected to Congress;

At age 39 - Was defeated for Congress;

At age 46 - Was defeated for the Senate;

At age 47 - Was defeated for Vice-President;

At age 49 - Was defeated for the Senate;

At age 51 - Was elected President of the United States.

This person was Abraham Lincoln. 

Do you ever feel like a failure? Do you think Abraham Lincoln did?

Do Not you let your failure stop you in doing good things.

Personal Example

I was a very shy boy. In high school I would blush as the good-looking girl would pass my aisle and her eyes would meet mine just for a flash of time. I would quickly look at the floor feeling that she could read my every thought.

In elementary school I seldom talked to anyone unless they talked to me:

Here are some of the things my "guiding hand" took me through to take the shyness out of me:

• Became a teacher where you CANNOT stay shy
• Met the girl who would become my wife, my first real date, in Hamilton Teachers' College.
• My wife and I were selected to teach and lead youth
• I was asked to speak to tourists and motorcyclists at two biker rallies.
• Was asked to speak at many youth group activities around the Niagara Peninsula
• Became interested in computers and was asked to speak to teachers from all over Canada at ECOO [Educational Teachers Organization of Ontario]. Spoke there 3 times.
• Went on to be asked to do seminars for Brock University College of Education, two school boards, and various groups and associations
• Have taught from Kindergarten to Adult classes in various settings
• Was asked to take various classes of young adults in our church
• Asked to teach Crown Financial and Dave Ramsey financial classes
• Overcame my fear of people by volunteering while in my 60's to take part in our church Christmas dramas, "A Time for Christmas" and "The Christmas Post"
• For "The Christmas Post" I actually had a small speaking part which I went over and over many times to make sure I got it right. That overcame a fear from a time in Grade 8 when for a few seconds which seemed like minutes, I could not remember my lines.
• There is a guiding hand who wants you to be the best you can be but he can only do that if you VOLUNTEER to leave your comfort zone!!