Motivational Stories of
Determination,
Perseverance and Success
By Kevin Johnson Copyright © 2016
Copyright © 2016 Kevin Johnson All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be
reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Disclaimer This book is designed to provide condensed information. It is not intended to reprint all
the information that is otherwise available, but instead to complement, amplify and supplement other
texts. You are urged to read all the available material, learn as much as possible and tailor the
information to your individual needs.
Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible. However,
there may be mistakes, both typographical and in content. Therefore, this text should be used only as
a general guide and not as the ultimate source of information. The purpose of this book is to educate.
The author or the publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity
regarding any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the
information contained in this book.
Table of Contents Introduction
Sylvester Stallone
Soichiro Honda
Joanne "J.K." Rowling
Michael Jordan
Oprah Winfrey
Marshall "Eminem" Mathers
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Phil Ivey
Anthony Robbins
Abraham Lincoln
Conclusion
Introduction I want to thank you and congratulate
you for downloading the book, ‘Motivational Stories Inspirational stories of determination, perseverance and
success’.
Everyone, at some point in their lives, will feel
overwhelmed by the challenges and obstacles that have to
face daily. In times of difficulty and depression, we often
look around to find a source of inspiration and to give us a
ray of hope.
This book contains the stories of 10 famous people whose
lives were tried and challenged. Like most, they felt
unbearable pressure and difficulties. They, however,
devised ways to make it out of their hellhole and succeed in
their own fields.
Each person can find an account that he or she can relate
to in this collection of motivational stories. Oprah Winfrey’s
rags to riches story, Eminem’s abuse of drugs and alcohol
and Abraham Lincoln’s dream for his country are only a
few of society’s successes we recognize. Each individual
featured in this book encountered a difficult passage but,
nonetheless, made it through.
These stories are bound to be examples and serve as
sources of motivation for those who are in need. We must
learn to see that life’s trials are nothing but passing
circumstances and that something can be done to
overcome them.
Thanks again for downloading this book; I hope you enjoy
it!
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone was born on July 6,
1946 in New York City. His father was a hairdresser and his
mother was a former dancer. His mother, Jackie, had such
difficulty in childbirth that forceps had to be used to assist
in Sylvester’s delivery. His signature sneer and his
unidentifiable accent, which is actually slurred speech,
were the result of the nerve damage caused by the
incident.
Sly, along with his younger brother Frank, was raised in a
hostile environment. His parents fought a lot and later
divorced. He was not shown much affection in his home,
either. He recalled his mother telling him that he didn’t
have a body he could work with and, on a separate
occasion, his father even told him that he didn’t have a
brain.
Stallone was emotionally deprived of parents, and he did
not do well in school. As a matter of fact, he was expelled
from school thrice. To make matters worse, after his
parents got a divorce, he was sent to several foster homes.
He eventually found his way back to live with his mother
and attend a special school for troubled children.
His childhood was clearly trying for the young Sylvester,
but, coming from such a difficult point in his life, he wanted
to inspire people who were going through the same pains
as he was. This was when he decided that he was going to
be an actor. He went to Miami State University to study
drama, but his desire was so overwhelming that he decided
to leave school and head straight to New York.
Stallone auditioned tirelessly for castings in the city. He
was determined that this is what he wanted to do. Even
when agents denied him—telling him that the business had
no place for someone with an injured face—and even when
his own wife told him to get a ‘real job’, he never gave up.
He had made up his mind that acting was the only thing he
was meant to do.
This caused Stallone to live in a small apartment without
air conditioning, with a wife whom he fought with
unendingly. The situation, though, did not kill his hunger
for his real dream. He would go to castings and liberally
work tirelessly to any role he could manage to get. He
played small roles in a number of films and even got a
starring role in a pornographic production. This he
accepted, believing that it might lead him to a bigger role,
and partly just to make ends meet.
This venture did not go on any further, however it was
difficult to get such small roles for Stallone, let alone get a
starring role in any film. His apartment and his wife were
cold and served him no comfort. He took comfort in the
warmth of the city library, where he discovered his love for
writing.
Stallone did have a flair for storytelling, he discovered. He
would stay at the library or stay at his home, making up
stories and scribbling certain scenarios. He was especially
keen on inspirational stories where one overcomes an
unbelievable situation, like his own.
For a time, he made a living selling these stories, but they
were no bestsellers, and times were so difficult that
Stallone even had to sell his dog just to get by. He was at
his lowest point, but, as they say, the night is darkest
before the dawn.
The story of Rocky Balboa was formed in Stallone’s mind
when he watched a boxing match featuring the great
Muhammad Ali. The underdog opponent, Chuck Whepner,
managed to knock Ali out. Stallone was astounded and
formed the idea of creating an underdog character who
would overcome his troubles and rise to the occasion.
He went home and wrote the manuscript for Rocky. In
three days, he had a screenplay and he had the vision of
playing the starring role himself. He went to actor castings
still hoping to land a role in a major film, but also having
the freshly written screenplay in his back pocket.
Stallone went to a casting being conducted by Robert
Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. When he didn’t get the role he
was aiming for, he offered his manuscript. Fortunately, the
team considered reviewing the script and was quite
impressed by what Stallone had written. They offered
Stallone a large amount of money to buy the material. They
weren’t too happy, though, with the idea of him playing the
lead role.
Stallone insisted that he play Rocky and wouldn’t sell his
script even when the offer was increased to ridiculously
large amounts. His script was so great that, finally, after
heaps of negotiations, everyone agreed to let Stallone play
the starring role.
His difficulties, however, did not end there. The movie was
given a $1 million budget, barely enough to have a quality
product. Stallone enlisted his family and close friends to
play small roles in the movie and in the production. His
wife was the set photographer, while his brother was an
extra.
The movie also took its toll on Stallone’s body as he was not
used to the kind of activity Rocky was doing. During
shooting, he would feel his body almost giving up and
falling to the ground. Still, he pushed and convinced
himself that the outcome would be tremendous, if he could
hold on just a bit longer.
It was in 1976 when Rocky was released to the public and
Stallone cashed in on his hard labor. Although he ended up
spending days in bed, nursing his sore body, the low budget
film sold and inspired millions around the world. It also
opened an avenue for Sylvester Stallone’s acting, writing
and directing career.
Stallone went on to star in over 40 films and is still active
today at 67. His writing skills are unmatched as he
continues to come up with action-packed screenplays. He is
also directing and producing high-quality material.
Being stubborn often has a negative connotation, but
Sylvester Stallone’s life struggles and his means of getting
out of the rut somehow debunked this idea. He was merely
being stubborn, insisting on what he wanted, and taking
nothing else, yet he achieved his dream and immense
success followed thereafter. He has, since then, been an
icon in the entertainment industry.
He epitomized the age-old proverb, “Try and try until you
succeed.” He has proven there is nothing impossible when
hard work and determination take action. And as for his
dream, he has surely inspired—and continues to inspire—
the whole world.
Soichiro Honda
In a word, Soichiro Honda’s endeavor to create the now
world-renowned Honda Motors Company was achieved
through patience.
Born to a blacksmith and a weaver, Soichiro had an innate
passion for machinery. The story of him chasing a car that
passed by their town when he was very little has been a
topic in many of his interviews. He said that the smell of oil
was one he could not forget, the thrill unimaginable.
As he was growing up, his father’s bicycle repair shop
enriched Soichiro’s interest in the craft and enhanced his
tinkering capabilities. His devotion to technology was only
empowered by the country’s sudden shift from agriculture
to that of manufacturing during this time. Soichiro Honda
grew up puzzled by the world’s development and found his
own way to understanding it.
At 16, his knowledge of machines and his dexterity in
handling them were beyond his years. School no longer
appealed to him; he wanted practical education. He opted
to halt formal training and rather apply as an apprentice in
one of Tokyo’s automobile servicing companies.
Soichiro worked as a mechanic apprentice for Art Shokai in
Tokyo. The company serviced cars needing repair and
maintenance. It was a difficult time for Soichiro, however,
as apprentices were not paid wages. They were merely
given a bed to sleep in and food to eat—nothing more.
This did not deter his yearning to learn, though. He closely
studied each vehicle rendered to his care. He was very
competent in maintenance and repair. He was able to
devise ways to simplify elaborate repair procedures and
shared this with his co-workers, making their jobs easier.
Later, he developed a flair for invention. He used
automotive tools and parts in an uncanny manner. He was
as creative as he was analytical.
He was also just a young boy. He spent his spare time
reading motorcycling magazines and committing to
memory each detailed description he read. He also closely
followed international motorcycle racing. Not long after
beginning the apprenticeship, he actually seemed educated
in the field.
His efforts were rewarded as Art Shokai’s management
took notice of his capabilities. The owner then took it upon
himself to teach Soichiro everything else he knew about the
trade—not only about machinery, but mostly about the
business. He was also a very valuable asset as the company
used his abilities when they ventured into manufacturing
cars. Soichiro was able to produce quality spare parts from
unconventional sources and through unorthodox means.
Soon thereafter, Soichiro’s rise through the ranks was
unstoppable. As Art Shokai ventured into racing, he was
named accompanying engineer and, later, he was given full
independence to manage Art Shokai’s branch near his
home. He was only 22 at the time and became very
successful. He became the most sought after mechanic in
the region.
Soichiro Honda’s involvement with Art Shokai ended when
he intended to expand the company’s undertakings into
manufacturing. He wanted to manufacture piston rings, but
the management saw no benefits in the venture and shot
his idea down.
To pursue his dream, he left Art Shokai and started his own
business in manufacturing piston rings. Due to the
complexity of the material, Soichiro had to go back to
school to have in depth knowledge of the metals. After long
days of making piston rings and long nights of studying,
and a lot of adjustments in between, Soichiro seemed to
have achieved his dream.
He was finally able to make quality piston rings and supply
Japan’s automotive giants, including Toyota. He was on a
roll with his manufacturing business until the war broke
out. The company was taken over and his position as
president was reduced to that of an operations manager.
Most of the male employees were drafted into the military
which left Soichiro with women in his rank and file. He
made certain adjustments in the manufacturing process,
making it easier for the women to comprehend and perform
the tasks. The company functioned smoothly, nonetheless,
until his building, containing the piston rings and all his
machinery, was destroyed during a bombing raid by
American warplanes.
Soichiro lost most of his investments. The few he salvaged
after the war he sold to Japan’s big companies to be able to
get back on his feet. The broken country did not break
Soichiro’s love of the automotive industry, however, nor did
it break his spirit. From the rubble created by the war and
the country’s need for practical motor vehicles rose the
Honda Motor Company.
Soichiro pursued his dreams of manufacturing motorcycles.
The first Honda motorcycle, literally an engine connected
to a bicycle, was made in 1948. Further developments
created useful and efficient machinery that catered to the
people’s needs. Within a decade, Americans had embraced
the idea of Honda motorcycles and, shortly after, Soichiro’s
creations were winning international motorcycle races.
Honda’s automotive line was not as widely accepted as his
motorcycles were. The Department of Trade at the time
discouraged Soichiro from getting into car manufacturing
as many had done so and they were already quite
successful at it. There was no place for another start-up
company crowding the markets. Still, he continued working
on his prototype and created a small yet efficient and
sturdy model fit for the times. He was given permission to
proceed and build a competitive empire; he did.
Soichiro Honda said “Success can only be achieved through
repeated failure and introspection.” His journey was long
and difficult, his life full of trials and challenges. Several
times he was shot down and several times he stood up to
continue what he loved doing. At no point did failure
prevent him from pursuing his dream; failure only urged
him to find a way to do so and heightened his need for
learning. He used his love for automotives, his knowledge
and skills to pursue his dreams, and, despite the obstacles,
he fought within reason to achieve his dreams.
Today, Honda Motor Company manufactures motorcycles,
cars and even marine and aerospace parts and equipment.
Soichiro’s innate characteristics were embedded in his
company. Being creative and giving the consumers what
they need sets the company apart. Also, creating a machine
and studying it to find ways to make it better was a virtue
he passed on, and, most importantly, having the patience to
see each task through was necessary. Honda is now one of
the leading automotive manufacturers, and the company’s
motorcycles are still winning races around the world.
Soichiro Honda enjoyed the benefits of his hard work and
diligence until his death at age 84 in August 1991.
Joanne "J.K." Rowling
Joanne “J. K.” Rowling is the first billionaire whose main
source of income is writing. She authored the multiawarded Harry Potter book series, selling millions per
installment. She is certainly a world renowned author today
and she is said to have a net worth more than that of the
Queen.
Her life, though, is like a wheel; it has had its ups and
downs. Born to Peter James Rowling, an engineer for RollsRoyce, and Anne Rowling, J.K. grew up comfortably. She
attended primary school in St. Michael’s in Winterbourne,
secondary school in Wyedean School, and college in Exeter
University, where she studied French and Classic
Literature.
J. K. Rowling’s downward spiral began in her teens, when
her mother became ill with multiple sclerosis. Family issues
caused a rift between her and her father which remains
until today. Her dreadful teenage years marked the
beginning of her life’s struggles.
In 1990, her mother died of the terminal illness. They were
incredibly close and Rowling took the death hard. It led her
to seek out new opportunities elsewhere. She ended up in
Portugal.
There, she taught English as a second language to locals.
She also met Jorge Arantes, a television journalist who later
became her husband. The relationship, however, was shortlived. Soon after the birth of Jessica Isabel, their daughter,
and three years into the marriage, their union ended in
divorce. Rowling spiraled further down.
She decided to go back to Edinburgh to live near her sister.
She didn’t have any income as jobs were singular. She
relied mainly on government assistance, which afforded her
a small flat and barely enough money to get by. The
responsibility of raising her daughter alone certainly didn’t
help the situation, either.
She was depressed, having come from a relationship of
abuse and now raising a little girl on her own with only
welfare money in her pocket. She contemplated suicide
more than once during this time, but she overcame it.
Through the years, only one thing was constant in J. K.
Rowling’s life—her love for English and literature. She
began writing as early as age 6 and has never stopped. She
particularly enjoyed writing children’s fantasy stories and
most of her works are of this nature.
The idea of Harry Potter came to her while she was on a
train from Manchester to London. She was consumed with
the idea of a train taking a little boy to a land of fantasy
where he had powers and where adventure awaited him.
This is how Harry Potter was born, as were the multitude of
characters, events and places in the famous books.
J.K. Rowling wrote the first book in the Harry Potter series
over a span of 6 years. She began shortly before her
mother’s passing, through her adventures in Portugal,
through her divorce and her return to Britain. Now that she
was deprived, with another mouth to feed, she was all the
more determined to finish it. Taking a stroll around the
neighborhood put young Jessica to sleep most often, and
Rowling would take this time to write in coffee shops in the
area.
Most of her personal experiences became sources of ideas
for the books. Some characters she picked out of her roster
of family, friends and acquaintances who were given life in
the magical world. After six years, the first installment of
the bestselling series was ready to be released to the public
—unfortunately, all the publishers she sent the manuscript
to turned her down.
The wheel that is J.K. Rowling’s life began to turn after this
because, a year later, her book was published. However,
her hope was neutralized by publishers telling her that
children’s fantasy books were not her strength and that she
should consider getting a real job. How they were proven
wrong! In half a year, the Scottish Arts Council awarded
Rowling a grant to continue writing the Harry Potter series
because they were so impressed with her work. Things got
even better from there.
Her fantasy stories of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and
Hermione Granger’s adventures in Hogwarts received a
multitude of awards from credible accrediting bodies. The
books were named best-selling stories in various literature
charts and publishers all over the world fought for a chance
to materialize Rowling’s stories.
J. K. Rowling’s life is a testament to how tolerance works
wonders. At times, life will give you one failure after
another, one disappointment more than you can take, or a
challenge that is too much to bear. When you are feeling
the pressure of such failure, remember the penniless lady
and her daughter who lived on government assistance
alone. Remember that all she did was to do what she does
best and believe that one day the odds would turn in her
favor. Be it by divine intervention or a twist of fate,
patience has rewarded her with much more than she could
have asked for.
Today, all seven of the Harry Potter books have been placed
number one on the New York Times’ Bestseller List. J. K.
Rowling has been awarded numerous recognitions and is
now rubbing elbows with the richest and most influential
people on the planet. She speaks scarcely of her past and
does not dwell on what has happened but focuses mostly on
what is happening.
She married again and had two more children with Neil
Michael Murray; the family resides in Scotland. Rowling is
now venturing into other genres in her writing.
Michael Jordan
Ask any NBA fan, or any person for that matter, who the
greatest basketball player of all time is and one name will
come to mind. Michael Jordan is recognized by the
association, by the fans, and even by his colleagues as a
basketball icon.
After being drafted as the number 3 pick in the National
Basketball Association’s 1984 season, he immediately
started making a name for himself. He bagged the Rookie
of the Year recognition and started pulling the Chicago
Bulls’ weight into the play-offs. In 1990, after five seasons
of professionally playing the game he loved, he led the
Chicago Bulls to a three-year winning streak. The team
captured another three championship trophies later, all six
credits given to the basketball superstar.
MJ had great scoring capabilities. He averaged 33 points
per game in the regular season and 30 points per game in
the playoffs. He was a constant pick in the NBA All-Star
Games and brought pride to the United States in the
Olympics. He was recognized as the Best Defensive Player
in the 1988 season, was honored with the Most Valuable
Player award numerous times, and was decked into the
Basketball Hall of Fame.
His achievements in the court were insurmountable,
making him the top contender for the Best Basketball
Player of All Time title. His knowledge and skill were great,
although these alone did not give him the nicknames “Air
Jordan” and “His Airness.” Michael played with a touch of
finesse and sophistication.
His 6’6” stature allowed him to dunk all the way from the
free-throw line. His precision moves were a target of many
slow-motion camera tricks and photo opportunities. His
grace under pressure was a reliable ally. In the basketball
court, “He was God disguised as Michael Jordan,”
according to Larry Bird, another basketball great.
This amount of knowledge, skill and precision comes only
from practice, diligence, and love for the game—all of
which Michael Jordan worked hard for.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in
1963. He was the fourth out of five children brought into
this world by James Jordan, Sr., an equipment supervisor,
and Anne Jordan, a bank teller. Due to the dangers of living
in Brooklyn, the family opted to move to the more peaceful
suburbs of North Carolina.
As a child, Michael had a very close relationship with his
father, this streaming mostly from their mutual love for
sports. Baseball was their sport of choice and they bonded
greatly over such games. Michael, however, chose to play
basketball to follow in the footsteps of his older brother,
Larry, whom he looked up to.
People who saw Michael grow up claim that he was
competitive in almost everything. He liked winning and
was, in fact, a sore loser. Consequently, he took it hard
when he did not make it to his high school’s varsity team.
In his sophomore year at Emsley A. Laney High School,
Michael tried out for an open position in the basketball
varsity team. He hadn’t grown to his full height yet, nor did
he have the skill he clearly showed the world in the years
to come. He was not chosen for the position. Instead, the
team opted for someone taller and bigger and—he believed
—a less competent player than he was.
This started Michael’s drive to excel in the sport he wanted
to be associated with. Rejected from the basketball team,
he was determined to make it through at the next try-outs,
and practice was his plan of action.
Michael went to school early every day, arriving before
everybody else did. He spent the morning practicing
shooting hoops in the gym. He was unstoppable in his
desire to be the best in basketball, so much so that the
physical education teachers had to drag him out of the gym
when the first period bell rang.
When another spot opened for the basketball varsity team,
Michael again tried his luck and was accepted as a team
member. He was disappointed, however, as he was barely
allowed to play in the interschool games. He was mostly on
the bench, handing out water and towels to the tired
players.
This disregard did not cause him to falter. He did not quit
the team; rather, he trained even more to perfect himself in
the field. Doing so earned him a valuable place in the junior
basketball varsity team and eligibility for a college
basketball scholarship.
The University of North Carolina, along with many others,
offered Michael Jordan a basketball scholarship grant. He
accepted this and established his position as a skilled
basketball player while studying cultural geography. He
didn’t even finish college before heading for the big dome.
He opted to join the NBA in his junior year, but returned
later to finish his course.
Michael Jordan’s perseverance to achieve what he wanted
is an exemplary story we all must learn from. He was not
accepted by his high school varsity team initially, but he did
not give up altogether. He was accepted but still not
allowed to play the game he knew he could play well, but
he did not lose hope. Instead, he channeled these
challenges into motivation to propel himself to stardom.
In the road to greatness, practice is always essential.
Michael Jordan demonstrated how practice does make one
perfect, or near perfect at least. He showed us how his
determination brought him to heights no one thought he
could reach. His willpower established that nothing is
impossible.
With perseverance and unparalleled willpower, Michael
Jeffrey Jordan made a name for himself. New records were
set during his years playing in the NBA. His games were
exhilarating and were closely watched by his fans all
around the world. Even now that he isn’t playing
professional basketball anymore, his name is never
forgotten when people talk about this beloved sport. People
now and forever will always remember his legacy—the
same legacy that began when he was denied a spot in his
sophomore basketball varsity team.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a well-known talk show personality,
entertainment mogul and advocate for the abused. She is a
prominent alpha female in every right. She is intelligent
and articulate and she is always well-groomed, with her
well-kept hair and pearly whites. Who would have thought
that she came from rags (literally)?
Oprah’s mother was a housekeeper. In her teens, she got
pregnant and brought Orpah (Oprah’s real name, according
to her birth certificate) alone into this world. However, due
to the necessity of working, she left the baby girl with her
mother. The trying life of Oprah Winfrey began here.
Oprah spent the first six years of her life with her
grandmother. They went to church regularly. Her
grandmother taught her to read and asked her to recite
Bible verses, which she did, so articulately that she was
nicknamed “Ms. Preacher.” Oprah says that this is where
she gained her self-confidence and learned her talent in the
field of communication.
Oprah believes that her grandmother influenced most of
who she is today, although their time together did not go as
smoothly as any young girl would have wanted it to. They
were very poor. Oprah wore potato sacks cut into dresses
because they didn’t have any money with which to buy
clothes. Her grandmother was strict and supportive despite
the circumstances. She was also abusive. When she was
dissatisfied in any way, Oprah would receive a beating from
her.
At six, Oprah went to live with her mother, Vernita Lee,
whose presence was barely felt. She was always so busy
with long hours of working that, during the few hours that
mother and daughter were together, she was either too
tired to care about her or was furious with her.
Oprah’s experience of sexual abuse is not a secreted fact.
She came out in her talk shows with the revelation of being
molested, and abuse was one of the more frequent topics of
discussion. She had mentioned being sexually assaulted by
a cousin, an uncle, and a family friend on different
occasions. Her family was not too happy when she informed
them later on and they insisted the allegations were false.
At 14, Oprah brought a child into the world. Her son,
however, died shortly after birth.
She went to a local high school where, again, poverty got in
the way. She was bullied and psychologically abused even
more. The difficult times led her to steal from her mother.
They would get into constant bickering and quarrels and,
as a result, Oprah turned to men as an outlet. She dated
older men who were also abusive in one way or another.
The exploitation was too much for young Oprah and too
much trouble for her mother. Thus, she was sent away to
live with the man whom they believed was her father,
Vernon Winfrey. Her mother was not sure, but he took
Oprah in and gave her a new life—one that had a future.
Vernon embedded in Oprah the importance of fundamental
education. He got her into a decent school where she
began to blossom. She started receiving academic awards
and began befriending the popular kids in school.
Her career started here when she got a part-time job at the
local radio news station. She had the job until she went to
college, and things further flourished thereafter.
She was given longer hours on the radio and was later
hired to anchor local television news. Her exemplary
performance raised the audience ratings in each show she
participated in and, eventually, she was hired to co-host a
talk show and, eventually, to present her own show.
The Oprah Winfrey Show, based in Chicago, changed the
image of daily talk shows. Oprah directed the show towards
more relevant topics within the community. Celebrity
gossip was no longer the main focus of the show; current
news and issues, diseases and their implications, and
human rights stories were the most common topics. The
show also prided itself in humanizing politicians, actors and
actresses, musicians, sports superstars and other
celebrities. There were moments of concern, heaps of
laughter, and sometimes tears. There were even big
confessions made on the show.
The show was such a success that in all of America—and
even around the world—Oprah Winfrey became a
household name. Her show lasted more than two decades
earning millions of dollars for the star. She branched out
into production and created her own production studio and
ventured into other media-related acquisitions. Today, she
is said to be worth close to $3 billion, a current contender
in any accrediting body’s Most Influential People list, an
advocate for human rights and a fighter against human
poverty.
Oprah Winfrey’s life was defined by the choices she made.
This is evidenced by comparing the life she has had to that
of her siblings. Vernita’s second daughter, Oprah’s halfsister, Patricia, died in 2003 as a result of cocaine
addiction. Vernita’s youngest child, a boy named Jeffrey,
died in 1989 because of complications from AIDS. All were
born underprivileged in mostly the same circumstances,
but only Oprah was able to choose the right path.
Oprah channeled her life’s challenges into a positive
perspective. For example, she has stated that her
grandmother gave her the self-confidence and belief she
had in herself, although, at the same time, her
grandmother was abusive. She chose to focus on the good.
The trials life threw at her were channeled into positive
energy too and not towards further promiscuity. For every
fastball thrown at her, Oprah chose to fight for herself
rather than fall victim to circumstances. Furthermore, she
has used her difficult upbringing as a means to understand
the abuse going on around the world and even find ways to
help those who are mistreated.
As Oprah reached the peak of her career, she advocated
respect for women, the LGBT community, and especially
children’s causes. She created a committee under her
supervision to be able to give help, be it monetary or in
kind, to those who need it most. She has given hundreds of
scholarships and she has even built schools for the less
fortunate in Africa.
Admittedly, Oprah did fall into some abusive relationships,
took prohibited drugs and had her time with promiscuity.
These were mistakes she made but, eventually, she got out
of all of them. She did not dwell on these circumstances,
nor did she let these challenges dictate the direction of her
life. Oprah Winfrey chose to be who she is now and her
personal choice to get out of the rut rewarded her
immensely.
Marshall "Eminem" Mathers
Eminem, the
well-known
rapper,
songwriter
and
entertainment entrepreneur, was born Marshall Bruce
Mathers III. Both his parents, Marshall Mathers, Jr. and
Deborah Mathers, were members of a band. His mother got
pregnant in her teens and brought Marshall III into this
world in 1972 in Missouri. His father left them when the
young Marshall was only 3 months old.
From here on out, Deborah had to raise Marshall on her
own. She worked odd jobs without regularity. Because of
this, Marshall and his mother moved to and from Missouri
and Detroit, living with relatives or at government housing
projects. At times, they relied mainly on government
welfare to provide for their daily needs.
Mother and son moved from one city to another, every
three or four months, making it difficult for Marshall to
establish a home. He was also having difficulty in school,
failing in his subjects and not making any friends. He was
often bullied and taunted by his classmates.
They moved from Savannah to Kansas to St. Joseph until,
finally, when Marshall was 12, they settled in Detroit. The
neighborhood population was mostly of African-American
descent and Marshall was a sole white face in the crowd.
The bullying continued. He was beat up by the black kids
regularly and he struggled with his grades too. His
mother’s paranoid personality disorder did not help young
Marshall through these difficult times, either.
Marshall tried to contact his father numerous times but
was rejected, his calls unreturned and his letters sent back.
Thanks to his uncle, Ronnie Mathers, Marshal had someone
to look up to as a father figure.
As a child, the only thing Marshall loved was the English
language. On occasion, he would find himself reading the
English dictionary, wanting to know all the meanings of the
words. He spent his time reading comic books, too, and
aspired to write some himself. That is until his Uncle
Ronnie introduced him to “Reckless,” Ice-T’s 1981 hit,
when Marshall fell in love with rap music.
This fueled Marshall’s love for the English language.
Eventually, he started rhyming until he started writing
verses and stanzas altogether. When his mother left the
house, he would often turn on some rap music loudly and
start scribbling rhymes on paper. This occupied most of his
time and his grades in school suffered even more. After
spending three years in the ninth grade, Marshall left
school altogether.
The desire to make a living out of rap consumed Marshall.
Since the age of 14, he has been competently rapping. He
found some more friends who were interested in the craft
and, together, they would express the concerns of their
young lives through the language.
He ultimately found himself joining open mic nights in the
underground Detroit rap scene. In this arena, two rappers
go head-to-head spitting impromptu raps. In the crowd of
black rappers, Eminem was born and was recognized as
the one to beat.
Eminem worked odd jobs during this time, helping his
mother provide for the needs of the household. Aside from
supporting his mother, Eminem soon had another
responsibility. His on-and-off girlfriend gave birth to a baby
girl in 1995.
Mostly working in the restaurant scene to support his new
family, Eminem started chasing his dreams of releasing a
hip-hop album. With the help of GBT Productions, his first
album was released. This album, though, was not widely
accepted by society. He was compared, unfavorably, to
other well-known rappers. Critics demeaned his lyrics and
his abilities to rap. Local radio stations literally ignored the
record and sales were low.
Rain again poured down on Eminem’s life as he was fired
from his restaurant job. With his music career failing to
materialize, Eminem turned to alcohol and drug abuse.
Family conflict was also a constant event through these
difficult times. His despair was so tangible that he even
attempted to harm himself, but failed.
It was the lowest point in Eminem’s life. His dreams were
shattered, he was knee-deep in vices, and his family needed
support. This fueled Eminem’s determination to pursue the
one thing he could do best—rap.
His violent alter ego, Slim Shady, was born. He channeled
his anger into rap lyrics, using his difficult life as the script.
This gave rise to the angry and violent real-life stories told
in his songs. This is the characteristic that would set him
apart from the generic songs about immense wealth, sexy
women and cool cars that other rappers rave about.
In 1997, his second album under Web Entertainment, Slim
Shady EP, was released. His content was mostly about the
violent life in the Detroit area where sex, murder, alcohol
and drug abuse were everyday occurrences. His emotions
raw and his versatile verbal prowess impeccable, this tape
demo was sent to Interscope Records. Immediately, famed
rapper and record producer Dr. Dre recognized Marshall’s
potential and signed him up for a record deal shortly after
their first meeting.
Since then, Eminem’s career has not been as smooth as he
would have liked. His musical products have been widely
criticized and many still condemn his violent and hurtful
lyrics. He has developed enemies and has been taken to
court by several lawsuits.
Even his personal life is a common point of interest for the
tabloids and for the crowds. His marriage to his childhood
girlfriend Kimberly Scott and their eventual divorce and his
life with daughter Hailie have been constantly monitored;
so, too, has his relationship with his mother.
His straightforward lyrics that deal with societal issues
have graced Eminem with a total of thirteen Grammy
Awards, named him “Best Rapper” on more than one
occasion, and led to thirteen rap albums. He is no longer
relying on a restaurant job or the Rap Olympics to pay the
bills. As a matter of fact, he has established his own
recording label and radio station. He has a comfortable
home, three children—two of whom are adopted—to come
home to, and a fan base enthralled by his talent.
Marshall Bruce Mathers III has not stopped writing about
his life, the challenges he has overcome, and the mindset
he has developed in order to achieve his dreams.
Challenges did not stop even after his success and neither
did he. Today, he is still soldiering through each curve ball
life throws at him. He writes them into a Billboard No. 1
single, too.
Eminem has written songs that each person can relate to in
one way or another. He is as human as any recording artist
could be. His instruments are those handed to him by life—
his talent and his struggles.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is known today as a politician and
a movie star. Many would know that he started his
professional career as a bodybuilder. As a matter of fact,
the increase in the sport’s fan base of muscle mass was
mostly attributed to his multiple consecutive years of reign.
The journey towards Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia,
though, was not easy for Arnold.
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born to a traditional
Austrian family. They were quite poor and Arnold
remembers buying a refrigerator as being a highlight of
their lives.
His father was a policeman and was said to have been
involved in the Nazi regime in the years that it was in
power in Austria. Arnold had a strict upbringing. He was
subjected to join several sporting events and was required
to excel at them. He played soccer due to his father’s
influence.
Arnold was said to be a jolly, exuberant personality. In
school, he was average. At home, though, he suffered from
unequal treatment from his father. Gustav Schwarzenegger
did not believe that Arnold was his biological son and so,
instead, he favored Arnold’s older brother, Meihnard.
Arnold was said to have been physically abused by Gustav
in his youth, as every other child in Austria was at the time.
He said that the incident was common and may have been
considered a norm. Arnold turned to his mother during
such difficult circumstances. He took it very hard when she
passed away many years later.
Arnold then made up his mind that he was to leave behind
the abusive life he was living. He learned how to when at
soccer practice—his coach took the team to the gym to
work out. He held the weights in his hand and he knew that
this was his ticket out of there.
Arnold’s determination to leave Austria and go to America,
to be somebody and to amass a heap of wealth, was enough
to bring him to the gym every day to work out. His inborn
heart condition did not stop him, either. Arnold had a
condition called bicuspid aortic valve. His heart only had
two valves instead of the normal three. Although no
manifestations were observed by Arnold, the dangers of
poor circulation and increased strain on the heart were
always present.
Arnold spent hours training daily and would even sneak
into the gym during the weekends when it was closed. Even
though his father urged him to be a policeman like himself,
Arnold set his heart on bodybuilding. He was so
determined to pursue this career that, at the age of 18,
when all Austrian males were required to attend a basic
training course and a compulsory year of military service,
Arnold opted to leave and join his first ever bodybuilding
competition.
Winning Mr. Junior Europe was his gateway to the sport he
adored. He had to go to military prison for a week though,
because of his refusal to attend compulsory military
service. However, soon after that, he competed in his first
ever Mr. Universe competition.
At this time, Arnold was gaining popularity and had
impressed a trainer in London. He moved there to work
full-time on his bodybuilding career. Having no money to
get his own flat, Arnold lived with his trainer’s family. He
also had the chance to study English, which led him to
dream of being an actor.
By 1968, with the money earned from his competitions, he
got on a plane and flew to America. His dream was
realized, but his career was far from over. He trained
further and harder and, due to his increasing popularity, he
had been cast to play roles in low-budget films, most of
which did not turn out the way the producers expected
them to.
Arnold balanced his career between bodybuilding and
acting at this time. Upon his retirement from bodybuilding,
his records included 5 Mr. Universe championship titles
and 7 Mr. Olympia titles—a record that fueled almost every
man’s drive to go to the gym and achieve that Austrian Oak
body. After his winning streak, he was sought out by
bodybuilding organizers to give commentaries on his
younger predecessors. He also wrote a book on the process
of bulking up, as well as regular magazine articles about
the sport.
It was after his retirement, and partly due to the masses’
increased interest in action movies in the 1980s, that
Arnold finally got the big break he had always wanted from
the time he decided to become an actor. The movie Conan
the Barbarian finally allowed Arnold to showcase his acting
talent. He was cast in lead roles in more films in the years
that followed. The Terminator movies, Predator, True Lies,
and The Expendables (1 and 2) are just some of the many
popular movies that starred Arnold.
Arnold’s story reminds us of the importance and
effectiveness of setting goals. These goals pave the way for
purposeful action in our everyday lives. He set a goal when
he wanted to get out of the abusive environment in which
he lived. He wanted to be a Hollywood actor and, despite
the many obstacles he faced early on, he still achieved that
goal. To this day, Arnold still sets goals and does it by
writing them on an index card, including his plans to reach
his objective. He did this when he bought his first car.
Furthermore, Arnold’s story reiterates the value of focus.
Like Arnold, one must learn to work towards one goal at a
time and focus all energy into that objective. And, of
course, goals are nothing but words without action.
Reaching most goals is difficult; that is what makes them
fulfilling when finally achieved.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a self-made man. He was able to
direct the difficult circumstances in his life towards a
career of recognition and greatness. Despite the
controversies regarding his family life, he will always be an
icon of strength.
Later in his career, Arnold ventured into politics. He was
elected to two terms as the Governor of California under
the Republican Party. His motivation was to be able to give
people the safe and harmonious environment he dreamed
of. There exist various rumors about him thinking about
running for President (This possibility was even explored,
albeit in animated form, in 2007’s The Simpsons Movie.),
but he has not confirmed such a desire.
Phil Ivey
Basketball has Michael Jordan and golf has Tiger Woods. In
poker, the prominent name is Phil Ivey. He is known today
as poker’s greatest player and is increasing his net worth
by thousands, if not millions, of dollars daily.
Ivey has won over 20 poker tournaments in his lifetime and
is looking to add more. He is known not only for his large
earnings but for showing no fear when he sits at the poker
table. He says that his disregard for money makes him
effective at the table.
Born on February 1, 1976, in California, Ivey grew up in
Roselle, Jew Jersey. He belonged to a working class family.
His father worked in the construction business while his
mother worked at an insurance firm. The family was
comfortable but, at an early age, it was difficult for Ivey to
appreciate the circumstances.
Ivey never wanted the life his mother and father lived,
being tied to a job that paid for a home and meals but
nothing more. He called this life mediocre; early on, he was
determined to make more out of his. He wanted to be rich
and he wanted to do it fast.
As the hunger for money and comfort consumed Ivey, he
found ways to satisfy this craving. While still in high school,
he worked at a fast food joint flipping burgers, but he
wasn’t satisfied with the small income. Right out of high
school, he sought a telemarketing job that did not satisfy
him either. It appears that the road to his dreams began
with a two-hour bus ride to Atlantic City.
Phil Ivey’s grandfather taught him the ropes of gambling.
Initially, Ivey would go to his apartment for the air
conditioning as an escape from their warm home. While he
was there, his grandfather would teach him the game of
poker, betting with pennies. He found himself coming back
regularly to play with him.
Later, young Ivey continually sought out this thrill. At the
age of 17, he managed to get a fake ID and would take
regular trips to Atlantic City and frequent the casinos
there. His mother strongly disapproved, saying that casinos
were a hotbed of sin, but this did not stop him. He found
his way to fast and easy cash.
As Ivey clocked out of his telemarketing job, his regular
destination would be the casinos in Atlantic City. On days
when Ivey had no work, he would spend 16 to 18 hours
there at a time. He practiced his craft playing not only
poker but various casino games. At times, he would win,
but many times, he would go home without the money he
had worked for. He had days when he didn’t even possess
the fare to go back home and would just sleep in the streets
for the night.
It was here, too, that he learned about the game that made
him a success—an unconventional success. He learned that
poker was mainly a psychological game. He studied each
opponent he had—their reactions when their cards were
dealt, their facial expressions and the body language they
deliberately want you to see and those they try to hide. He
says a huge part of his success is reading his opponents’
minds through their actions.
At a certain point in the gambler’s life, he was dealt cards
that brought him only defeat. Contemplating quitting the
scene and shifting to another career, Ivey set out for Los
Angeles’ Hustler Casino where he gave himself an
ultimatum. He had $50,000 and he was willing to play
everything, but, if he lost this, he would stop gambling
altogether. He won and started making a name for himself.
Eventually, Phil moved to Las Vegas where he regularly
visits the casinos doing all sorts of straight-up gambling. In
less than an hour, Ivey can easily come out of the building
close to a million dollars richer. He travels for gambling,
too, and visits the casinos he passes on the way.
An image of immense wealth, years of practice, and his
desperate need to be the best at what he does defines the
unconventional success of Phil Ivey. He considers poker
and gambling not as a vice but as a job. He once said,
“When I put in the time, at the end of the year, I end up
winning.”
Phil Ivey currently has a home in Las Vegas and owns a
McLaren. He frequently travels around the world to join
various poker tournaments. He has a private jet to take him
to his “job,” and he lounges comfortably as he is joined by
his personal trainer and golf coach on board.
His family has also benefited from his winnings. He had
funded his sister’s degree in Law and had given his mother
a gift in the form of a condominium in New York City. Part
of his earnings is dedicated to a foundation he himself
founded and he organizes poker charity events where the
proceeds go to the needy children of Las Vegas.
Phil Ivey’s career of choice does seem unconventional. It
may even appear sinful to the more pious among us.
However, there was not a single conventional thing in how
he worked hard at his craft. Easy as it may seem, he has
perfected gambling by studying it meticulously instead of
relying on sheer dumb luck.
Anthony Robbins
Anthony Robbins once said, “The past does not equal the
future.” The life coach’s being is a living testament of his
own statement.
Although there were challenges in the earlier part of his
journey, it is a small part of the Anthony Robbins story. His
mother was known to have multiple romantic partners
when Anthony was young. He had a different father figure
at any given time, but none of them were able to provide a
comfortable life for the family. They were mostly poor, with
little to get by on, and they relied on the charity that kind
souls handed to them.
The success in Anthony Robbins’ life came as early as his
teens when he worked with John Grinder. He was originally
tasked to help promote Grinder’s work on Neuro Linguistic
Programming by encouraging people to attend his seminars
and read his output. He later convinced Grinder to teach
him the fundamentals of the field. They reached success
together and, at his young age, Robbins was making his
own money, and in heaps.
As he reached his 20s, Anthony enjoyed the triumphs his
young, powerful mind had achieved. He, however,
struggled with an uneventful life after this. He was
bummed at home, watching television shows, and, because
of this, he gained an enormous amount of weight.
A friend’s small push to get up and change his life
catapulted his already materialized career. Anthony used
the knowledge he had gained while working with Grinder
to get back on his feet. After this, he no longer dwelt on
what had happened in the past.
Today, Anthony is a respectable life coach. He has written
self-help books on unleashing one’s potentials and living up
to them. He wrote the books ‘The Unlimited Power’,
‘Awaking the Giant Within’, ‘Notes From a Friend’ and
‘Giant Steps’. He has a stable fan base and has ventured
into conducting self-improvement seminars on living a
healthy lifestyle, gaining and managing wealth, and
leadership essentials. His Mastery University, an
educational facility of the self-help nature, has
accommodated thousands of participants.
He uses his experience in dealing with various types of
personalities and incorporates them with the theoretical
aspect of his subjects. By doing this, he learns more about
people, their motivation and characteristics, and the
approaches needed to help them in the necessary areas. He
also incorporates a lot of entertainment media in his
classes to be able to relate more to the audience and to
maintain their interest and enthusiasm.
He has spoken for the House of Commons and House of the
Lords and he has met and worked with noted personalities.
Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Michael Douglas and Andre
Agassi are just a few of the celebrities he has dialogued
with. This knowledge, experience and credibility only
boosted Anthony’s success.
Anthony Robbins’ life story is only as important as the
lessons he imparts in each of his books, infomercials and
seminars. Each person must learn and recognize these
things before actual changes occur in one’s life. These are
the foundations of motivation.
Anthony Robbins said that, to be motivated to create
changes in your life, you must realize and believe that your
old habits and patterns are detrimental. It is necessary to
understand that a particular act or a circumstance seems
pleasurable but is actually not beneficial and to make the
firm decision to ensure changes fall under the first step in
making changes. The perfect example is for an overweight
person to realize that overeating leads to an increase in
size, a disturbed self-image and certain health risks.
The next step is to correlate the old destructive behavior to
something painful while you correlate the new practice to
something pleasurable. For example, eating an extra
doughnut or finishing a bag of chips will cost you an extra
30-minute run on the treadmill while eating a balanced
prescribed diet for a whole week earns you a cup of ice
cream.
Anthony emphasizes the benefit brought about by
recognizing the old patterns when they appear and
immediately doing something so that you don’t get sucked
right in. All you have to do is recognize the temptation and
interrupt it with an activity. When you are offered a golden,
crispy, deep-fried chicken nugget by your friend, go do 30
jumping jacks or play a game you enjoy on your iPad. The
distraction should help you suppress the urge to take a bite
or even totally forget about it.
Creating a plan to totally eliminate the old habit also
works. To avoid unhealthy eating, plan your weekly menu
with healthy, balanced, nutritious food. Do not fill your
pantry with chips, chocolate and muffins any longer.
Reinforce this pattern until you get used to it, until such a
time as this seems to be the norm and the old habit or
pattern no longer serves as a temptation.
Regularly testing yourself is also needed to see whether or
not you have fully grown accustomed to change. Realizing
that you have not yet done so may cause you to seek out
more ways to totally eradicate the bad habit.
This mechanism, as taught by the brilliant mind of Anthony
Robbins, is applicable not only in weight loss but in most
undesirable circumstances in one’s life. This pattern may
be used to get out of abusive relationships, to eliminate
alcohol and drug abuse or to deal with your fears and
phobias.
Anthony Robbins himself has used this mechanism as he
faced the trials thrown at him by life, and so did many of
his celebrity clients. All you have to do is recognize the
problem, make a firm decision to change, and believe that
it is possible. As he has said, “Using the power of decision
gives you the capacity to get past any excuses to change
any and every part of your life in an instant.”
With the determination and willingness to change that
Anthony Robbins had, any person should be able to
overcome their own evils, as he did, and live to enjoy the
fruitful life such changes may bring.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States,
encountered numerous obstacles on his way to his eventual
presidency. His childhood wasn’t exactly a happy one and
his education was less than what was expected of an
American president, yet his days as the President remain as
historic and significant as his life.
Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 in a small log cabin in
Kentucky. His parents were Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. At
the time of his birth, Abraham’s father owned extensive
farm land and Abraham was able to attend basic education
courses.
When Abraham was seven, the family moved to Indiana,
where the family had a much better life. The prevalence of
the milk sickness in the area, however, was the beginning
of Lincoln’s difficult life. His family was greatly affected by
the illness as it took several family members to the grave,
including his mother.
The household chores were distributed between Abraham
and Sarah, his sister. Some people said that Abraham
seemed lazy at this time, refusing to participate in
household chores but, later, he learned and contributed
greatly to the work around the house and to the family’s
earnings.
Because of this circumstance, Abraham had to stay home to
help rather than attend school. He had attended only a
year’s worth of lessons and his yearning to learn was fresh
and alive. He had no choice but to remain at home, though,
so he started to study on his own. He was basically selftaught the rest of his life. Even his law degree was a result
of intensive self-study.
Abraham’s father remarried a widow with three children.
Missing his relationship with his real mother, Abraham
instantly bonded with his stepmother and would later even
refer to her as “mother.” They moved several more times
until Abraham was old enough to go about his own life. He
opted to leave his family and travel to New Salem, Illinois.
New Salem played a part in the development of his skills in
speaking and persuasion. He worked at a store there and,
thus, came into contact with different personalities every
day. He was motivated to learn everything he could about
the practice of law. He borrowed books from people he
knew as he could not afford to buy his own, but he studied
rigorously and later used this knowledge as an avenue to
public office.
Abraham Lincoln’s path to the Presidency was tedious. He
served as a captain of a troop of the Illinois Militia during
the Black Hawk War. Soon after this, he started to venture
into public office. Although his first try as a candidate of
the Illinois Legislature failed, he was re-elected thereafter
and served four full terms in office. During this time, he
perfected his law studies.
Attempting to advance his own position failed, however, as
he was unsuccessful in his bid for the Congress. He
resorted to building a strong foundation for his law
practice. He spent more or less fifteen years in the business
representing everyone who needed a lawyer. The cases he
handled ranged from transportation issues to monetary
disputes and even murder charges.
The challenges in Lincoln’s life were not exclusive to his
political career alone. His romantic and family life proved
to be a trying department, too. Abraham was engaged to be
married to Ann Rutledge in 1835 when she died of Typhoid
fever. He ended up marrying Mary Todd who was from a
prominent family in Lexington, Kentucky. Their first
scheduled wedding was broken off by the couple after
having decided they actually didn’t want to get into the
marriage, but two years later, they ended up marrying each
other after all.
Abraham Lincoln had four sons and he managed to outlive
three of them. The first-born, Edward, died of tuberculosis
at age 3, while the second child, William, died when he was
only 11. The fourth son, Thomas, died when he was 18 due
to heart failure. Only the third son, Robert Todd, lived to
see adulthood and ultimately died at 82.
The times proved difficult for the couple. Mary struggled
emotionally and psychologically and was admitted to a
mental institution later in her life. Abraham also suffered
from depression, so severe that he spent six months
confined at home.
The reactivated issues on slavery in the United States had
encouraged Lincoln to try to capture another position in
public office. His popularity grew as he openly expressed
his disagreement with the acquisition and trading of slaves
in the country. The birth of the Republican Party further
strengthened Lincoln’s chances in making it to the Senate.
He envisioned a world wherein everyone was equal and in
which the government favored no specific race.
Lincoln’s aspirations captured the hearts of the people and,
although he was not elected to become a senator, he was as
popular as ever and his name was brought up whenever
there was talk about the Presidency.
As Lincoln assumed his duties as the 16th President of the
United States, many opposed his liberal idea of abolishing
slavery. His thoughts seemed so radical that seven states
immediately ceded and decided to produce their own
country, the Confederate States of America. His term was
defined by the advent of the Civil War. At the peak of the
war, a total of seven states united against his leadership
and its ideals.
The circumstances in Abraham Lincoln’s life led to great
leadership during the Civil War. As he had always done, he
studied military tactics and operations independently to
better lead his army. Furthermore, he still insisted on the
concept of equality among all men and, later during his
term, he finalized the decree that all slaves be freed.
With his skill in military operations and his knowledge in
political manipulation, the United States won over the
Confederate States. His successfully bringing an end to the
Civil War earned Abraham Lincoln a second term as
President. He addressed his fellow Americans and said that
it was time to build up the nation, as one of freedom. He,
however, did not live to see the day. Shortly after the end of
the war, Lincoln was assassinated while watching a stage
play with his wife.
Despite the premature end of the political leader’s life, the
results of his battles are evidently well lived today. America
is now the land of the free where gender and race are no
longer measures of social status. Most importantly, and as
Abraham Lincoln wished, the United States built a
government of the people, by the people, and for the
people.
Conclusion
Thank you again for downloading this book!
I hope this book was able to help you in your search for
inspiration and motivation. If you are going through a
rough patch in your life, may you be able to find a way out
of it partly through what you have learned from the life
stories of these successful individuals.
The next step is to apply what you have learned to your
own life. Who knows? Your example may someday be
featured in a compilation of inspirational stories such as
this one!
Finally, if you enjoyed this book, please take the time to
share your thoughts and post a review on Amazon. It would
be greatly appreciated!
Thank you and good luck!