When faced with your own personal or business failures, just consider this man. He tried his hand at business and he failed big time! So he thought, Well, maybe I belong in politics. He ran for the political office of State Legislature and guess what? He lost. Failed again.

OK, maybe he really did belong in business! After all, one business failure doesnt mean he cant do it. Does it? He went back to another business venture. Again he failed for the third time. Isnt the third time supposed to be a charm? But this was beginning to look like a bad luck charm.

The man really did like politics. He wanted to make a difference. So he ran for office once again. And this time he made it. He was elected to the State Legislature. But, when he ran for Speaker of the House, he lost. Rack up another failure.

Congress? Maybe he could be a Congressman. Ahh, he succeeded for one term. But then when he ran for the second term, he lost. Some people thought only a real loser could lose on a rerun. However, that notion didnt stop this man. Several years later, he ran for the U.S. Senate. He failed to win.

Lost again? Cant the man take a hint? Obviously not! He actually even upped the anti and ran for Vice President of the United States. Whoops lost again. Two years later he tried for the U.S. Senate only to lose once more.

Was this man crazy? Didnt he realize that he was a failure? Couldnt he understand out-and-out rejection? The reality was clear the people did not want the man in office. Nobody was interested in him. He was a failure. Why couldnt he get it?

But the man refused to accept the reality. He turned his back on rejection. He ignored failure. Nothing was going to stop him. He hung on to his dream, his strong intention and his expectations of success. He persisted.

Two years after his last defeat, he ran for office once more. And this time he won, and he won big! He became the sixteenth President of the United States and one of the most famous and influential people in the history of the world.

So, when youre feeling discouraged, consider this man Abraham Lincoln and never, never give up on your dreams. Be persistent!