inspiring failure-to-success stories for you to talk about, Walt Disney had a marvelous business idea and needed funds to start up his business. He approached the banks for a loan and every one turned him down. He did not give up and after visiting hundreds of banks, got his loan approved and brought the World of Disney characters into our lives. At the age of 14, Bill Gates had already started two companies. Although they did not last long, that did not stop him from dropping out of Harvard to venture into mainframe computer programming and founding the Microsoft Corporation. Thomas Edison invented the first prototype light bulb in 1878 consisting of a thin strip of paper for the filament. Although it gave off light, the paper burnt too quickly for it to be commercially viable. His student was giving up hope. Edison's positive reply was that they had found 999 ways not to make the light bulb and were therefore one step closer to success. Celebrity billionaire and talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, had a troubled childhood. She claimed that she was molested at the age of 9 by her cousin and uncle. She ran away from home and was pregnant at the young age of 14. Putting all these troubles aside, she worked hard at her studies, obtained a scholarship, and pursued a media career which made her one of the most influential woman in history. Although Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to scale Mount Everest, it was not without failures. He had attempted in 1952 but failed. It was in 1953 that he made another attempt and succeeded. PTO >>