Famous Failures For Kids – And How to Teach Them Mindset

We all know their names today – Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, J.K. Rowling – but the path to success for many icons was paved with failures and rejections.

When we think of our celebrated artists, leaders, and entrepreneurs throughout history, it’s easy to assume they were destined for greatness all along. However, the road to the top is often marked by hurdles, missteps, critics, and temporary defeats. In those defining low moments, it takes passion and perseverance to bounce back better than before.

The introductory stories presented in this article showcase how some of the world’s biggest stars and trailblazers, from Michael Bloomberg to Barack Obama, exemplified the power of getting back up after getting knocked down. Their journeys can inspire us all to embrace failures as fuel and persistence as the key to unlocking our highest potential.

After all, failure is inevitable – but giving up is always a choice.

How to teach kids about those famous failures?

• Explain that failure is a normal and expected part of any learning process. It doesn’t mean they can’t do something, it just means they are still learning.
• Praise efforts and progress, not just success. This shows the value is in learning and growth, not outcomes.
• Share your own failures and mistakes that you learned from. This models failure is nothing to hide.
• Teach a growth mindset that abilities can be developed through practice. This redirects from results to the learning process.
• Encourage trying new things. Failing shows they are pushing their comfort zone to gain new skills.
• Tell them mistakes mean their brains are growing! Failure is fertilizer for future success.

Use Those Famous Examples:

• Share stories of Michael Jordan, Oprah, and others getting cut, fired, or rejected early on. Explain this motivated them to prove doubters wrong.
• Note they didn’t quit after failures. They analyzed mistakes, improved, and kept trying until they succeeded.
• Explain these famous people earned success through hard work and resilience. Failure was just part of the journey.
• Have kids research a favorite celebrity and identify failures before their big success. See that stumbles paved the way.
• When learning from bios, emphasize ignoring the haters, trying again, and pushing to potential.
• Tie examples to growth mindset. If idols kept learning from failures, kids can too.

The key is teaching that failure is not a sign to give up, but a normal step to success. With the right mindset, kids can extract lessons from failures and persist just like the greats.

You can read more about Grit For Kids and Growth Mindset for Kids in our blog.

Walt Disney

Walt Disney really struggled at first. He got fired from a newspaper job for not having enough good ideas! Can you imagine? His early cartoon characters totally bombed too. People thought they were too weird.

• He was fired from his first animation job at a newspaper for lack of creativity.
• His initial cartoon character ideas were rejected for being too unrealistic and not funny enough.
• He started his first animation studio called Laugh-O-Grams in 1921, but it soon went bankrupt due to his inexperience in running a business.
• His next venture, Disney Brothers Studio, also struggled financially and he even suffered a nervous breakdown due to the stress.
• Despite these failures, Walt persevered and eventually created an iconic cartoon character named Mickey Mouse that became hugely popular.
• He went on to pioneer groundbreaking animation techniques, build Disneyland theme parks, and create timeless classics like Snow White, Pinocchio and more. His creative vision turned the Disney Company into a global empire.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs didn’t even finish college. He dropped out after 6 months! He and his buddy Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer in a garage. But Jobs got booted from his own company by some suit types he fought with. Not cool.

• He dropped out of college after just 6 months and had no idea what to do with his life for a while.
• He and his buddy Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer back in 1976, but he got kicked out of his own company in 1985 after fighting with some execs.
• The companies he started after Apple – Next Computer and Pixar Animation – really struggled at first and flopped.
• But then he came back to Apple in 1997 and totally transformed it into one of the most innovative, successful companies ever.
• He changed multiple industries forever with sick products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad.
• His legendary leadership and obsession with excellence made Apple one of the planet’s most valuable brands.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential media moguls and personalities ever. But she faced a ton of hardship and rejection on her way to the top.

• She grew up dirt poor and suffered abuse as a child. It was a real tough start in life.
• She got a big break as a TV news anchor. But they said she got too “emotionally invested” and canned her.
• Folks told Oprah she just wasn’t fit for television. They said she wouldn’t make it.
• Well, Oprah kept on pushing. She broke barriers as the first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show.
• The Oprah Winfrey Show became the highest rated talk show in history!
• Oprah built an empire and became a billionaire philanthropist icon, despite all the haters and rejection along the way.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is often called the greatest basketball player ever. But it took some failure and adversity to unlock his greatness.

• He got cut from his high school team as a sophomore for being too short. Major bummer!
• Jordan used that rejection to fuel his training. He practiced like a maniac to prove doubters wrong.
• He made varsity the next year and kept improving until he was a college superstar at UNC.
• He got drafted 3rd overall in the NBA but then went on a championship rampage – winning 6 NBA titles and 5 MVPs!
• His Airness showed how failure can motivate world-class excellence if you respond the right way.

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg is considered one of the most successful movie directors today. But the road to the top had plenty of bumps.

• He got rejected from film school multiple times ‘cause they thought he lacked talent. Harsh!
• He didn’t let the rejection stop him from pursuing his directorial dreams.
• He started small with indie films and TV until he got his huge break with the blockbuster Jaws.
• After that, Spielberg’s career blew up. He started churning out mega hits like E.T., Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List.
• Now he’s viewed as a master filmmaker, despite the early naysayers in film school!

Stephen King

Stephen King is known for writing some of the best selling horror novels of all time. But his writing career had some scary rejections early on.

• He grew up poor and struggled with addictions as a young man. A rough start.
• His first novel Carrie was turned down by over 30 publishers. Talk about disheartening!
• King kept writing while working as a teacher and selling short stories to magazines.
• He finally got Carrie published, and it became a huge bestseller. His career took off.
• He went on to sell over 350 million books that enthralled readers all over the world. Persistence pays off!

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison brought us game changing inventions like the lightbulb. But his genius wasn’t always recognized.

• He got canned from his first two jobs for low productivity and not following orders. His bosses clearly couldn’t see his potential!
• When trying to invent the lightbulb, he failed over 1000 times before getting it right. But he viewed each failure as a lesson.
• Edison finally created the first commercially viable lightbulb and launched the electric power industry.
• He ended up with over 1000 patents to his name. The wizard of Menlo Park showed how dedication and grit pay off.

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein revolutionized modern physics and is considered one of history’s greatest geniuses. But as a child, few saw his promise.

• He didn’t talk until age four and struggled in school due to learning disabilities. Teachers said he was slow.
• At sixteen, a teacher told him he would never amount to anything. Boy was that teacher wrong!
• Einstein persevered through self-doubt and worked on his theory of relativity. He transformed theoretical physics.
• He went on to win the Nobel Prize and became the most famous scientist of the 20th century. Einstein proved you should never underestimate the underdog!

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the greatest presidents ever. But his road to the White House was filled with losses.

• He lost eight elections before becoming President. Eight! But he learned from each loss.
• He battled depression, failed businesses, and a nervous breakdown early on. But he pressed on.
• Lincoln persevered through the adversities and eventually led the nation through the Civil War and abolished slavery.
• Turns out Honest Abe could pass the ultimate tests on the long road to greatness. His life shows how resilience and passion can trump early failures.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z had a rough upbringing dealing drugs in the projects. But he dreamed of being a rap legend.

• He got dropped from his first record label before they even put out his album! Dang.
• But Hov didn’t quit. He started his own label Roc-A-Fella and dropped his now classic debut Reasonable Doubt.
• He blew up to become one of the best sellin’ artists ever and a billionaire businessman.
• Jay-Z took some hard knocks early before his big win.

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss, real name Theodor Geisel, wrote some of the most popular kids’ books around. But when he first tried publishing, over 20 companies rejected his work!

• They thought his rhymes and drawings were too out there. Luckily, he kept at it.
• Hits like The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham went on to sell millions.
• Kids everywhere love Seuss stories to this day. His wild creativity won in the end after those early haters!

Vera Wang

Vera Wang is a bridalwear fashion icon now. Before that, she trained hard as a figure skater trying to make the U.S. Olympic team.

• Spoiler alert: she didn’t. Major bummer!
• So she pivoted to her other passion of fashion design.
• She worked her way up at Vogue before launching her own wedding dress line at 40 years old.
• And she crushed it! Vera proved you can turn lemons into lemonade if you stay determined.

Charles Schultz

Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts, tried submitting comics to his high school yearbook.

• They rejected his work and published zero cartoons.
• After WWII, newspapers also turned down his Peanuts comic strip at first.
• But Schultz stuck to his guns. Peanuts eventually became a global sensation for 50 years!
• The classic Charlie Brown and Snoopy characters still bring joy to millions.
• It just goes to show, never give up on your dreams – even when folks try to rain on your parade early on.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n’ Roll, became an icon who changed music forever. But early on, folks tried to dismiss his talent.

• As a teen, he auditioned for local gospel groups but got turned down each time for not having the right sound.
• He got fired after just one show at the Grand Ole Opry for being “unsuitable for country venues.”
• But Elvis kept rockin’ his unique style. His big break came in 1956 with hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” that made him a star.
• He showed naysayers that you gotta stick to your guns. Elvis became the best-selling solo artist with his original sound.

Barbara Corcoran

Barbara Corcoran built a massively successful real estate empire. But first she struggled to find a career path.

• In her early adult years, she worked 20 different jobs, from waitressing to teaching. She couldn’t find her calling.
• At age 23, she borrowed $1,000 and quit her job to start a real estate company in NYC.
• Through smart risks and hard work, the company grew to a $5 billion business before she sold it.
• Barbara proved hustling through early missteps can pay off in a big way down the road.

Richard Branson

Richard Branson is the billionaire mogul behind Virgin. But his first business ventures were flops.

• His magazine and airline companies struggled badly in the beginning and were near collapse.
• He didn’t let those failures stop him. Branson kept taking bold risks, learning from mistakes.
• He went on to build an empire with over 400 companies under the Virgin umbrella.
• Richard shows how embracing failures as learning experiences can lead to great success.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft and became one of the richest men alive. But before his meteoric success, he struggled too.

• He dropped out of Harvard to start his first software company, Traf-O-Data, which flopped hard.
• After Microsoft took off, Gates was sued by antitrust regulators for illegal business practices. Another big setback!
• He didn’t let that slow him down though. Gates stepped down from Microsoft to focus on philanthropy.
• His Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given over $50 billion to charitable causes around the world. Bill learned to bounce back stronger with each failure.

Henry Ford

Henry Ford pioneered the automobile industry with the Model T. But his early businesses crashed and burned.

• His first two auto companies totally flopped. He lacked the manufacturing expertise at the time.
• Ford didn’t give up on his vision though. He founded the Ford Motor Company and revolutionized production with assembly lines.
• The famous Model T became affordable for regular folks. Ford motorized society and transformed transportation.
• Henry proved with grit and determination, early failures can lead to groundbreaking success..

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling inspired millions with the beloved Harry Potter series. But long before fame and fortune, she battled poverty and depression.

• She was a single mom on welfare while writing her first Potter novel. She could barely afford to feed her daughter.
• Over a dozen publishers rejected her manuscript before one took a chance on Harry.
• Her books sold over 500 million copies worldwide and launched a multi-billion dollar film franchise.
• Rowling showed that perseverance through tough times can lead to unbelievable triumph.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is one of Hollywood’s highest grossing actors ever. But early on, his acting ability was constantly doubted.

• Studio execs told him he’d never make it big because he lacked that “leading man” charisma.
• His first movies were flops that almost sunk his career. But he kept grinding.
• His roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones made Ford an international superstar.
• He proved through hard work and belief, you can exceed expectations, no matter how low they are for you.

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier broke racial barriers as the first black man to win Best Actor. But he faced crushing rejection early on.

• He dropped out of school at 13 and was rejected from the American Negro Theater for his accent.
• He took acting classes to improve and got his big break in the Broadway play Lysistrata.
• Poitier triumphed over prejudice to star in groundbreaking roles in 1950s films, paving the way for other black actors.
• Sidney showed that with passion and determination, you can shatter limitations others try to impose on you.

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg became a billionaire entrepreneur and mayor of NYC. But he got fired early on in his career.

• At age 39, he was abruptly terminated from investment bank Salomon Brothers.
• He didn’t dwell on it. Bloomberg used his severance to start his own company, which revolutionized business information services.
• He built a media and financial services empire before running New York City for 12 years.
• Bloomberg exemplifies how we can leverage failures as catalysts to create something even better.

Colonel Sanders

Colonel Sanders’ secret recipe for fried chicken got rejected over a thousand times. Yep, over one thousand!

• He was told his food wasn’t any good. But the Colonel didn’t let the critics stop him.
• He kept knocking on doors until he struck a deal. Once people got a taste of that finger lickin’ good chicken, his recipe made him a fortune almost overnight!
• The Colonel showed you got to believe in yourself, even when everyone else doubts you.

Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh is considered one of the greatest painters today. But in his lifetime, no one wanted his art.

• He only sold one painting his whole career! Art critics back then mocked his work and called him untalented.
  • Poor guy was so depressed, he cut off his own ear!Luckily, he kept painting his dreamy landscapes and sunflower still lifes.After his death, van Gogh finally got recognized as an artistic genius. Gogh finally got reognized as an artistic genius.

Barack Obama

Before becoming the first black U.S. President, Barack Obama lost his first bid for Congress…big time!

• He got crushed in the race and it looked like his political career was over before it even started.
• But Obama didn’t let that failure shake his confidence.
• He worked his way up slowly gaining experience in the Illinois legislature and Senate before making history in the 2008 election.
• Obama’s journey shows that we all take some knocks on the road to achieving our biggest goals. Quitting is not an option!

Beyoncé

Pop icon Beyoncé wasn’t always destined for the spotlight. As a young girl trying to get her start, she lost on the TV talent show Star Search!

• After that embarrassment, she could have given up on her dreams of singing stardom.
• But Beyoncé kept singing her heart out and soon made it big with Destiny’s Child.
• She then launched a record-shattering solo career.
• Queen Bey proved that you need to keep striving because one early loss doesn’t define your future!

More to read you can find here:

32 Growth Mindset Quotes for Your Kids

Growth Mindset Questions for Kids

Final Words

The stories of opposition and adversity faced by the icons in this article prove that failure is a ubiquitous part of any monumental success story.

Michael Jordan did not achieve global fame without first being cut from his high school team. Oprah Winfrey had to overcome early firings and being told she was unfit for television before becoming a billionaire media mogul.

Much like a masterpiece painting requires countless brushstrokes, layers, and corrections, the path to human achievement is a process marked by setbacks, criticism, and temporary defeats.

However, it is our mindset and response to those stumbles that define us. By analyzing our failures as data, listening to feedback without self-doubt, and persisting through repeated efforts, we can leverage our mistakes to unlock dormant potential.

The difference between those who achieve greatness and those resigned to mediocrity is often the willingness to fail, adapt, and fail again on the journey to excellence.

So let these famous stories ignite our belief in conquering setbacks and provide hope that our highest aspirations are within reach if we have the conviction to persevere.

After all, success is a marathon, not a sprint, and the race belongs to the stubborn.