Success is something we all strive for. We eagerly set goals and dream of that victorious feeling. However, the road to success is rarely smooth. Often, failure is the first step toward achieving our dreams. When we hear about famous success stories, it may seem like their rise to the top was effortless and straightforward. In reality, that's hardly ever the case. Most successful people faced numerous failures and had to persistently pursue their vision before tasting success. Here are five inspiring stories of individuals who simply refused to give up.

Ursula Burns

Ursula Burns made history as the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, Xerox. However, like our first two stories, her rise to the top was not without challenges. Ursula started as a summer intern and faced the dual challenges of being a Black woman in an industry that was, back then, dominated by White males. She had to make tough decisions, including major restructuring and layoffs, on her way to transforming Xerox into one of the world’s leading business services providers.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai grew up in Pakistan's Swat Valley, an area notorious for Taliban influence. As a young girl, she faced unimaginable challenges, including being banned from attending school and surviving a brutal assassination attempt at just 15. Instead of succumbing to fear, she chose to fight back, becoming a global advocate for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang's path was far from smooth. She started her career as a figure skater, which didn’t work out. She later worked at Vogue, only to be passed over for the editor-in-chief position. At the age of 40, Vera decided to design her own wedding dress. This laid the foundation for the launch of her own bridal line as we know it today.

She also supports healthcare initiatives, particularly cancer research and treatment, and champions arts and culture through donations to museums and educational programs.

Sara Blakely

Before founding Spanx, Sara spent years selling fax machines door-to-door. She even failed the LSAT twice, crushing her dreams of becoming a lawyer. But these setbacks didn't deter her. With just $5,000 in savings, Sara developed her first prototype for Spanx. Today, Spanx is a billion-dollar company.

The Sara Blakely Foundation, she has partnered with organizations like the Global Giving, Malala Fund, and others to create lasting change and open new opportunities for women globally.

Colonel Sanders

By the age of 65, Colonel Harland Sanders had faced numerous failures, from losing jobs to running unsuccessful businesses. With nothing more than his Social Security check, he set out to sell his fried chicken recipe. Rejected by over 1,000 restaurants, Sanders didn't give up. He believed in his recipe and continued knocking on doors until he found success. Today, KFC is a global brand, serving millions. Sanders' story shows that it's never too late to start over and pursue your dreams, no matter how many times you may have failed before.

Final Thoughts

These stories demonstrate that successful people fail too, and that failure can be the first step towards success. Each of these successful individuals encountered numerous setbacks throughout their careers. But despite these challenges, they maintained a positive outlook. Their stories are a reminder that setbacks should not deter us from pursuing our passions. Instead, they should motivate us to persist, adapt, and pursue our purpose with more determination.