Secret to Success — FAILURE
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I wrote about success story Ashley Qualls back in April, the teenager turned millionaire. (NOTE: See the new Archive tab to look it up!) I think it is one of the most commented posts to date. Leo Bloom (creatively named after a character in the movie The Producers) wrote a rather strong response. He makes many points that I think many relate to.
— I had quite the head start on Ashley when it came to graphics design and website building, yet I have not made any money from it, much less millions. I have put ALOT of work into what I did, but it has not translated into dollars no matter how hard I tried and worked — I cant stand success stories like these. Honestly, I WISH I could pump my fist in the air, and say something like “Yeah! Good for you Ashley!” but I can’t — All the while, I TRIED (God knows I’ve tried!) to make just a few bucks at the very least over the internet, but it all came to nothing — Have you ever seen the 1968 comedy movie “The Producers” starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder? Considering all the years of hard work I’ve put into graphics and website design, among other internet enterprises, and having nothing, not a cent, to show for it, I feel just like Leo when he cries out: WHERE’S MY SHARE???? WHERE’S LEO BLOOM’S SHARE???? I sure would like to know the answer to that question. —
I had a hard time finding the movie but finally did through NETFLIX. I will say that the movie itself was not one I found to be a great one (can two actors have worse hair that Gene and Zero?) The movie does raise a thoughtful point. The first being that the answer to where a person’s share is to be found would not be in the love of money. The characters chose to compromise their values by taking advantage of others and ended up in jail.
So for so many of us, myself included, who’s ships have not come in so to speak, what do we do, especially when our lives have been filled with struggle? And struggle that has up to the present time often has produced little or nothing? Even what many would call failure.
Well, clearly, deciding to quit or worse take advantage of others is not the direction to go. What do we do when we fail or just fall short, are disappointed and depressed? Take a minute to think about these examples of failures:
- Ray Kroc first failed in real estate — went on to start a little business called MacDonalds.
- Fired from a newspaper and told he lacked knowledge, no original ideas, and lacked drawing ability, he is named Walt Disney.
- One of the original ideas of these guys was a technical tool that analyzed traffic flow. It flopped. I think they also ended dropping out of school. They were Gates and Allen — MicroSoft.
- Henry Ford, a total failure with his first two automobiles.
- Macy failed 7 times before his store finally took off.
- This gal quit drama school after being told she was too shy. Named Lucille Ball.
- Decca (sp) Recording didn’t like this group’s sound and said guitar music was on its way out. The Beatles continued on anyway.
- His fiance died, failed in multiple businesses, suffered a nervous breakdown, lost 8 different elections only to end up as one of our most honored Presidents, Abraham Lincoln.
- This poor sap was cut from his high school basketball team. Loser. Michael Jordan.
That list could go on and on. I have no doubt each of those highly successful people know that failure hurts. Yet, it is always the starting point of where we start to learn. Our challenge is to protect ourselves from becoming bitter and filled with regret. Regret especially. I find that as I have grown older, if I focus too much on those things I have come to regret, I am finished.
So what is it I do? Actually, it is what I am doing and that is evaluating areas of real purpose and meaning so that those things I choose to do from here on out will be of most value not only to me but those around me.
Where is your share, Leo? Where is my share? Not sure where it ends but the beginning is often disguised as failure. It will be very important where we look for our answers and direction.
Ahhh, and this leads in to a very important post I have been challenged to share by a friend, that of what it is I have been going through regarding spiritual awareness and growth. A transformation that continues presently and began with a failed marriage and business — the ending of which I am confident will finish in a better place.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:56 am
“I will say that the movie itself was not one I found to be a great one”
I love that movie.
Its quite the classic. It went from original comedy movie to a broadway musical remake, to a movie musical remake. Its the musical remake (starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick) I cant stand. I never saw it in the the Broadway theater, just the movie musical remake.
“(can two actors have worse hair that Gene and Zero?)”
Good point
But this was 1967. The era where uncombed hair was the norm.
“The movie does raise a thoughtful point. The first being that the answer to where a person’s share is to be found would not be in the love of money. The characters chose to compromise their values by taking advantage of others and ended up in jail.”
Where they took advantage of tyheir fellow perisoners and even the warden! Dont get me wrong, I do not like how my life is oging or where it is currently, but I would not go that far….compromise my values, commit crimes, for the love of money. I WANT to have money, lots of it, but I want to come by that money honestly.
“Ray Kroc first failed in real estate — went on to start a little business called MacDonalds.”
Actually, to be more specific (’ve read his autobiography, and not one but tywo books on the founding of McDonalds), he was working as a salesman that sold milk shake multi-mixers. He was very successful at this. And in 1954 he discovered that one little place in San Bernardino bought up lots of them, eight. This intrigued him and he went over there to see why one little place needed so many multi-mixers. He was shocked at how this one little place (McDonalds) was so busy. It was owned by the McDonald brothers. They have been in the restaurant business for many years (since the 1930s). Their latest one, this drive in, had so many items on the menu (including seafood) like many places. The McDonald brothers had an inspiration. Get rid of most of the items on their menu and keep only their best selling items: sodas, burgers, fries, shakes. These very few items accounted for the majority, about 65 percent, of their revenue. By getting rid of all other items that accounted for the remaining 35 percent, they were taking a big gamble at losing a third of their revenue. The gamble paid off. They were able to provide hamburgers, fries, etc, to their customers faster, and at a good cheap price (since they were buying hamburgers in a bigger bulk they got them cheaper from their supplier and were able to pass the savings along to their customers). Their sales went through the roof.
Ray Kroc came along, saw this operation, and talked the McDonald brothers into hiring him to sell franchises for them. The McDonald brothers already had sold a few franchises on their own, and were not really interested in selling anymore as they were perfectly satisfied with what they had. If Ray Kroc wanted to do it, and if they didnt have to lift a finger, they were happy to let Kroc do it for them. So Kroc went to work.
It was about 1961 that Ray Kroc bought out the McDonakld brothers for 2.7 million in cash. He got sick and tired of working for them, indeed, Kroc hated them. According to his autobiography he tried to go by the rules of the franchise, but the McDonald brothers, who prefered to run things on an informal basis didnt see the need to go by so many rules and regulations when they were the owners.
For example, one time Kroc discovered that one of their restaurants needed a major renovation and in order to have this renovation done, according to the legalese of the franchise agreements, he had to have a certified letter from the McDonald brothers stating that its ok to go ahead with the renovations. The McDonald brothers, not seeing the big deal about needing to send certified letters, gave their verbal consent, but Kroc wanted them to send him that certified letter. It never came. So Kroc went ahead with the renovations anyway, knowing that the McDonald brothers could sue him in court for violation of the franchise agreements. They didnt sue or complain, but it worried Kroc no end about a lawsuit right aroudn the corner.
So, Kroc decided to buy them out and asked them to name a price. The McDonald brothers asked for 2.7 million. This made Kroc choke as the McDonald corporation was not yet worth that much. But he borrowed and begged around for that money, got it, and bought out the McDonald brothers, and he was now the complete owner.
The McDonald brothers was asked how they decided on that 2.7 million figure. They said that way they would have a cool one million dollars each after taxes. (This was 1961 when a million dollars was worth more than a million dollars!). One of the borthers (Mac) was not in good health and died only about a couple years after the sell out. The other brother, Dick, was later asked that considering the billions of dollars that McDonalds would be getting in revenue in later years, did he ever regret selling out for what would later turn out to be a small sum in comparison. He said no. Because if he and his brother hadnt sold out, they’d both be stuck in an office building somwhere running the business instead of enjoying their lives. And by the time they had sold out to Kroc, they had already been in the restaurant business for around 30 years. Plus, when they sold out to Kroc, before they got that 2.7 million, they were already very wealthy men.
Though, when they sold out to Kroc, they also insisted that Kroc let them keep their drive in in San Bernardino as part of the agreement. Kroc agreed to this. The McDonald brothers tried to use their original name, McDonalds, but since Kric now owned that name, he insisted they stop using it. So they went with “The Big M”. Then Kroc, who hated the McDonald brothers, opened a McDonalds right across the street from the brothers original place, effectively putting them out of business. Today, thew original site of the first McDonalds hamburger stand, is now a McDonalds museum.
“This gal quit drama school after being told she was too shy. Named Lucille Ball.”
Reminds me of the first time Fred Astaire to audition for a movie studio:
“According to Hollywood folklore, a screen test report on Astaire for RKO Pictures, now lost along with the test, is supposed to have read: “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Balding. Can dance a little.”
“Where is your share, Leo? Where is my share? Not sure where it ends but the beginning is often disguised as failure.”
Now THAT is a GREAT answer.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Failure is a cool thing! Abraham Lincoln is one of my favorites. Regarding the spiritual awareness, it is funny how God has a soft spot for beggars…is good to be in that place.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
This was an encouraging blog entry. Thanks!
July 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Whoops, did I write a book there?
July 12th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Leo — I hear there is an updated version of the movie. Have you seen it? I also wanted to mention I think the teenager, Ashley Qualls, is one of those stories that do not often happen … obviously. No doubt it seems unfair, I do agree, to the majority who struggle sometimes all their lives. I do think the struggle is an indication something in our focus needs re-focused.
Great background on Kroc. I like the fact the brothers he bought out made a quality of life decision. I think THEY had the right attitude in seeing it wasn’t in the millions they gave up but in the million they had a to enjoy now.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
“I hear there is an updated version of the movie. Have you seen it?”
Hi Phil, Yes I have seen it. The updated version is based on the broadway musical version. First it was the original 1967 movie. Then it was turned into a Broadway theater musical in 2001, then the broadway musical version was made into a movie in 2005 (starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane). I rented the updated movie musical version to see what the big deal was. I hated it. Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were no match for Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. Their performances seemed to be copying whatever Mostel and wilder did with horrible results, and I didnt care for the additional musical numbers. The original 1967 version was just fine as it was.
“I also wanted to mention I think the teenager, Ashley Qualls, is one of those stories that do not often happen … obviously.”
Thats true. I’m so tired of the self styled internet entreprenuers who point to Ashley and say something like: “See? If she can do it, so can everybody else.” But for every Ashley, there are thousands of people like me who have worked much longer in the same field, or wherever, and have not seen any rewards. Getting rich online is just as hard as getting rich offline. It happens only to a lucky few.
“No doubt it seems unfair, I do agree, to the majority who struggle sometimes all their lives. I do think the struggle is an indication something in our focus needs re-focused.”
I really dont know what to do to “re-focus”. I mean, I’ve done more than just graphics design. I’ve had my hand in so many other opportunities, only to watch others shoot ahead and become successful while I stagnate. I might as well be banging my head against a wall. All my efforts, all me energy, and have nothing to show for it.
“Great background on Kroc. I like the fact the brothers he bought out made a quality of life decision. I think THEY had the right attitude in seeing it wasn’t in the millions they gave up but in the million they had a to enjoy now.”
I really liked that part too. They way they gave up all that money just to enjoy the rest of their lives, and whats more didnt regret it at all. Many is the time I’d be on one of my many go nowhere low paying jobs and I’d be thinking to myself, if I EVER make millions, the first thing i’m going to do is retire. Retire from work, retire from the rest of the world. Never lift a finger to work again unless I want to.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Phil,
I no longer have your # after switching phones , How is everything? I hope to here from you soon. You can reach me at xxx-xxx-xxxx .