Success often comes after a journey of struggles, setbacks, and failures. Many of today’s most iconic brands and business leaders were once considered failures, only to rise stronger and carve their path to greatness. Here are 10 examples of how failure was just the stepping stone to success.
Amazon: From Failed Projects to E-commerce Giant
In 1999, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos launched several ventures like the online auction site and the zShops platform, which failed to take off. Despite these setbacks, Bezos continued to innovate and focused on improving the customer experience. By 2001, Amazon turned its first profit, and today, it is the world’s largest online retailer, reshaping global commerce.
Coca-Cola: Only 25 Bottles Sold in the First Year
In 1886, Coca-Cola debuted in Atlanta, but it was far from an overnight success. Dr. John Pemberton, the inventor, sold just 25 bottles in the first year, and after his death, the company was sold to Asa Candler for $2,300. Despite this rocky start, Candler’s relentless marketing eventually made Coca-Cola a global brand, selling over 1.9 billion servings per day today.
KFC: 1009 Rejections Before the Secret Recipe Was Sold
Colonel Harland Sanders faced 1,009 rejections while trying to sell his secret fried chicken recipe in the 1950s. At 65, Sanders had nothing but his Social Security check and a fried chicken recipe. Undeterred, he continued his journey, and finally, a restaurant owner agreed to partner. Today, KFC has over 24,000 restaurants in more than 145 countries.
Walt Disney: Fired for Lack of Imagination
Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper in 1919 because his editor believed he lacked creativity. His early ventures, such as Laugh-O-Gram Studios, also went bankrupt. Despite these failures, Disney’s unshaken belief in his vision eventually led to the creation of Mickey Mouse and the Disney empire, which now dominates the entertainment industry worldwide.
FedEx: Betting it All on Blackjack to Save the Company
In 1973, Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, was on the brink of bankruptcy. The company had only $5,000 in the bank, insufficient to cover the fuel costs to operate. In a desperate move, Smith flew to Las Vegas and gambled his last funds in a game of blackjack, winning $27,000. This gave the company enough cash flow to survive, and today FedEx is a global logistics giant.
Dyson: 5,126 Failed Prototypes Before the First Success
James Dyson spent 15 years and created 5,126 failed vacuum cleaner prototypes before finally getting it right in 1983. He faced rejection from manufacturers and retailers, but his perseverance paid off when his dual cyclone vacuum cleaner became a global success. Today, Dyson is a household name in innovation and design.
Airbnb: From Empty Living Rooms to a Global Phenomenon
In 2008, Airbnb founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia struggled to pay their rent. They came up with the idea of renting out air mattresses in their apartment, but the company initially failed to attract investors. After living off credit cards and selling novelty cereal boxes, they finally raised funding. Today, Airbnb is a multibillion-dollar company that transformed the travel industry.
Starbucks: Rejected by Banks 217 Times
Howard Schultz, who later transformed Starbucks, was rejected by over 200 banks when seeking financing to expand the small Seattle coffee company in the early 1980s. With a vision to create a “third place” between work and home, Schultz persisted. Today, Starbucks operates over 30,000 locations worldwide and redefined the coffee experience.
Microsoft: First Business Went Bankrupt
Before founding Microsoft, Bill Gates’ first venture, Traf-O-Data, was a failed attempt to automate traffic analysis in 1972. Gates learned from this failure, and by 1975, he and Paul Allen founded Microsoft. The company struggled in its early years, but eventually became a global leader in software and technology, forever changing the world of computing.
Henry Ford: Bankrupt Twice Before Revolutionizing Automobiles
Before Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford’s first two automotive ventures ended in bankruptcy. However, his persistence led to the founding of Ford Motor Company in 1903. Ford revolutionized the manufacturing process with the assembly line, making automobiles affordable for the middle class and turning Ford into one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.