Abraham Lincoln is acknowledged as one of America's greatest presidents. Here is a brief summary of his career:
1831 Failed in business
1832 Defeated for legislature
1833 Failed in business again
1834 Elected to legislature
1835 Sweetheart died
1836 Had nervous breakdown
1838 Defeated for speaker
1840 Defeated for elector
1843 Defeated for congressional nomination
1846 Elected to Congress
1848 Defeated for Congress
1855 Defeated for Senate
1856 Defeated for Vice President
1859 Defeated for Senate
1860 Elected President of the United States
Lesson: Falling down doesn't make you a failure, but staying down does.