Have you heard the story of the two frogs who fell into a pot of milk? They start kicking frantically, looking for a way out, but the sides of the pot are too slippery. The first frog realizes there’s no hope, stops swimming, and drowns.
The second frog refuses to give up; he keeps swimming, kicking, swimming, kicking. Even though he’s getting tired, he keeps it up. After a few hours, he finds himself sitting on sweet, creamy, butter!
When we’re faced with difficulties in life, sometimes it feels easier to just throw in the towel. But when we learn to persevere, many times, that’s when we make true breakthroughs.
11 Stories About Perseverance to Read and Enjoy
It’s stories like these that help inspire the rest of us to press on even when the going’s tough. Here are several stories of perseverance that can help spur you on:
1. Made in America: My Story by Sam Walton
Sam Walton started off working for someone else in the retail business. When he decided to start his own company, it was all an uphill climb.
But through perseverance, integrity, and many of the other values he holds dear, he was able to build the Walmart empire, serving the American public with the most affordable choices in the retail world.
2. Edison by Edmund Morris
Thomas Edison would not have been able to invent the light bulb if he didn’t first go through hundreds of failed experiments.
And his perspective of every failure? “I’m one step closer to finding the right solution!” Read about how he trusted the process of trial and error and never gave up.
3. Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s by Ray Kroc
McDonald’s has become a household name associated with the American burger. But the story goes far back, with Ray Kroc founding the company when he was fifty-two years old.
His motivation and perseverance have contributed to this beloved success story in entrepreneurship.
4. The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
The creator of the bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul used the principles he himself has studied and taught for over 30 years.
In this book, he shares some of his most inspiring insights and lessons that can help readers reach their biggest life goals.
5. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
David Goggins is one person whose childhood should’ve spelled utter failure. But he rose against the odds and reached one milestone after another, proving the power of human willpower in the face of the greatest adversity.
Goggins soon became one of the best-performing members of the Navy Seal, but even after that, he kept pursuing excellence and proving the capacity of the human body.
6. George Washington Carver by Hourly History
George Washington Carver was the son of a slave woman during the Civil War. He defied the odds and refused to give up in his pursuit for freedom and a better life.
His family background did not keep him from pursuing an education and finally establishing a name in science as one of the most prominent inventors!
7. Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark
Jack Ma faced rejection throughout his entire life, having applied for at least thirty jobs with no luck.
He also applied to Harvard at least ten times, each time getting rejected! But he rose above his circumstances, and became the founder of Alibaba, the largest company in China.
8. The Starbucks Story by John Simmons
You probably don’t recognize the name, but I bet you’re one of the many who regularly visit a local Starbucks.
Schultz applied for more than 200 bank loans with no success, before he finally scoured up the $400,000 he needed to start the business. And guess what, today there are more than 32,660 Starbucks stores all around the world!
9. More Than a Hobby by David Green
Did you know that America’s home and craft superstore started as a kitchen table project? David Green and his wife started by creating picture frames right on their kitchen table.
Through their perseverance and hard work, they were able to grow the $600 start-up business into a thriving $1.3 billion enterprise.
10. Educated by Tara Westover
But that didn’t stop her from pursuing an education—her perseverance helped her make her way to Ivy League schools like Harvard and Cambridge University, proving that no obstacle is too insurmountable to keep you from reaching your dreams.
11. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
In this memoir, Jeannette Walls shares her struggle growing up with a father who was two different people when sober and when drunk.
She and her siblings were forced to take care of themselves, but thanks to their resilience, they were were able to rise above their circumstances.
Reading Stories of Perseverance
Never let what other people say about you define who you are. If you need a reason to believe in yourself and keep pushing forward, read more stories about perseverance.
The world is full of people who have defied the odds and proven that almost anythging can be done.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
