Never Quit

Abraham Lincoln served as the 16^th President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserved the Union, and ended slavery. Reared in a poor family on the western frontier, he was mostly self-educated. He became a country lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, and a one-term member of the United States House of representatives. Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.
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.
• 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 president of the United States.

He could have quit many times – but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the United States history.
Moral: Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. So try and fail but don’t fail to try.
(courtesy - An article shared by a colleague in a company newsletter)