Success+or+Failure

Life is Full of Hard Knocks

JUST THE FACTS: Failing is a part of life. In fact, it accounts for many, many successes – **for without failing, success is almost impossible**. Learning how to bounce back from failure is not always easy, but it is necessary. Enthusiasm for goal attainment is a necessary characteristic for success. This activity helps participants understand that failure is not something to fear and in fact often a necessary step on the path to success. =SUCCESS or FAILURE= = = = = =PART 1: CAN YOU NAME…. (Use the Internet and search for the following answers, may work together in Google Docs)= = = 1. …a famous person who was defeated seven times while running for political office?

2. …a cartoonist who was told by the editor of the Kansas City newspaper, “It’s easy to see from

these sketches that you have no talent.”

3. …an author whose first children’s book was rejected by 23 different publishers?

4. …a famous singer who was fired after his first performance at the Grand Ole Opry?

5. …a famous actress who dropped out of high school and held a variety of odd jobs, including

doing the hair and make-up for corpses, before finally succeeding in show business?

6. …a famous author who lived on welfare for years in an apartment infested with mice?

7. …a famous athlete who was cut from the varsity basketball team his sophomore year in high

school?

8. …an inventor who was thrown out of school in the early grades because his teachers thought he

couldn’t learn?

9. …a famous Harvard University drop out?

10. …an inventor of a fried chicken recipe that was rejected by more than 1000 restaurant owners?

=Part 2: Write about the following: Think of a time when you experienced a personal failure. What was the failure? How did this failure help you to become a better person, make better decisions, or succeed in a way you hadn’t imagined? Do you believe that failure is important? Why or why not?=

=Part 3: Check out some of the YouTube videos on “Famous Failures.” Simply type “famous failures” into the search bar to find results.=

Now with a partner create an iMovie video showcasing one your own failures that ultimately had a positive effect. OR use the information provided in this activity (famous people’s successes and failures) and work with a partner to create a POSTER or FLYER for elementary students.