Sunday, 12 February 2012

Abraham Lincoln Didn't Quit

In honour of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, I have reprinted an excerpt from Chicken Soup for the Soul.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIDN'T QUIT

Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln.  If you want to learn about somebody who didn't quit, look no further...Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road to the White House:

1816  His family was forced out of their home.  He had to work to support them.

1818  His mother died.

1831  Failed in business.

1832  Ran for state legislature -- lost.

1832  Also lost his job --- wanted to go to law school but couldn't get in.

1833  Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt.  He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.

1834  Ran for state legislature again -- won.

1835  Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.

1836  Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.

1838  Sought to become speaker of the state legislature -- defeated.

1840  Sought to become elector -- defeated.

1843  Ran for congress -- lost.

1846  Ran for Congress again -- this time he won -- went to Washington and did a good job.

1848  Ran for re-election to Congress -- lost.

1849  Sought the job of land officer in his home state -- rejected.

1854  Ran for Senate of the United States -- lost.

1856  Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party's national convention -- got less than 100 votes.

1858  Ran for U.S. Senate again -- again he lost.

1860  Elected sixteenth president of the United States.

Source Unknown, Chicken Soup for the Soul, 1993.

Never give up -- success could be just around the corner.


Portrait of a young Abraham Lincoln courtesy http://upload.wikimedia.org.



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