15 Life-Changing Success Stories to Fuel Your Life Journey

Do you ever ask what it takes to turn an idea into a reality?

Are these successes based on pure talent or is there a successful recipe that can help us achieve our dreams? 

In fact, I would like to note that each of the great success stories are based on commitment, determination and willingness to fail and rise again.

You get to only view the epitome of success-the successful businessman or businesswoman, the technology giant, the sportsman, the social activist-Little do you realise that success comes with a price. 

All of these people quit college, struggled to start again after failure, or began anew after being beaten back multiple times – these life changing stories are replete with moments that would turn any man to a quitter. 

However, what defines greatness in these leaders is their determination to achieve their goals despite the odds stacked against them.

Here, we are going to explore 15 extraordinary stories of an ordinary person who turned into extraordinary performers. All of their stories are helpful in understanding inspiring experiences of successful people, especially the determination with which they turn challenges into future success. 

Ready to get inspired? 

Their stories of hope and triumph are a lifelong narrative that has inspired many into new determinative success paths, so let’s discover them.

1. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is one among the famous personalities who brought into light the much famous brand called “Apple” which actually doesn’t require any introduction!

He dropped college after the first semester and went to Atari and saved money to start his own company. After that, alongside the talented engineer Steve Wozniak, he founded Apple in 1976.

Despite all the difficulties and failures, Steve remained the major driving force to turn this company into one of the most significant and valuable tech companies worldwide.

This incredibly talented man made an immeasurable difference in the industry and also the way we use technology in our daily lives – he is one of the most genuine pioneers that can be named who greatly influenced the progress of the industry and will be remembered for that for centuries.

2. Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was the most exceptional scientist of the late nineteenth-century and the bulb’s inventor.

In his childhood he started his own business when he was 12 years old, he started selling newspapers and fruits which were suggestive of his future expertise in managing resources.

Setting up his laboratory in New York he toiled and sweated in the field of science and invention. In the course of inventing the light bulb before it was fully realised, Edison suffered a number of defeats, the reality of which have thousand failures.

Some of his dedication to experimentation and discovery set him apart from others, and therefore, he became light’s bearer and an invincible force in the invention realm.

3. Bill Gates

The name that is associated with advanced technological invention and the spirit of giving is Bill Gates. Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft Company which has played a crucial role in changing the face of personal computing, by bringing out cheap and easy to use software to the market. 

The kid was probably a smart one, a young programmer enthusiast who had left Harvard University to pursue his dreams.

Although he started early, it was even with his childhood friend Paul Allen that formed Microsoft in 1975 that made a revolution in the technological sector.

Their real success came with the release of MS-DOS which later graduated to Windows, a GUI based operating system that changed the persona of personal computing.

But Gates’ course did not go without some obstacles; At the core of the infancy, Microsoft was challenged by legal cases, and intensive rivalry, but Gates’ leadership thinking and business skills enabled the company to ascend. 

He was very much the perfectionist and never shirked from hard work or pushed the team to the limits and beyond.

They all remember the vision of having a PC on each desk , though it may be slightly misquoted but today such vision was a revolution that has significantly transformed the world of work, learning and communication.

When Gates decided to retire from Microsoft, he thought of changing his status to a philanthropist. With his then-wife Melinda, he formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that was voted the world’s biggest private charitable foundation. 

The foundation is very active and contributes to solving problems around the world; it deals with such issues as health, education, and poverty.

Gates’ life experience is a true example of the mission, good idea, and improvement of the world with inspiration to other students and many people to follow their dreams and become successful to make a change.

4. Ratan Tata

One of the most humble and visionary industrial giants of India is the Ratan Tata. As the chairman of Tata group he converted a conventional commercial conglomerate into an international titan with operations in every sector ranging from steel to automobile. 

However, contrary to many rich dilettantes who merely leaned on their family’s affection to build their success, Tata was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

He began his career at the lowest level on the operational value chain of Tata Steel, aggregating functional knowledge of the company from the grassroots level. This acquired knowledge helped him to gain experience in industry as well as in the workforce.

With the leadership of Ratan Tata at the helm, Tata Group also took on a marvellous industrial makeover. He was instrumental in many path breaking deals like Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel which put Indian industry on the world map. 

What makes him stand out, however, is that much of his work is aimed at social good and social solutions.

He introduced the Tata nano, a car that is an affordable way into car owning for the man on the street. Everyone understood his good intention of serving the larger community of the project despite the many challenges affecting the project.

Ratan Tata has been not only a great businessman but also an ethical leader, and philanthropist as well. He continues to inspire young entrepreneurs and students with his mantra: “I don’t believe in taking the right decisions. I do decide things and then I make that decision correct .” 

He proves that one can come from anywhere, it is not necessarily your privilege that gives birth to success but your value, humility and how you use your business to impact the world.

5. Elon Musk

The man who is perfect for this description of the modern innovator is Elon Musk, who is actually referred to as the real-life Iron Man, Tony Stark. Elon Musk, now considered amongst the most important businessmen of our generation, did not have an easy path to get to where he is today. 

South African born Musk was underprivileged during his childhood and was bullied severally. He migrated to the U.S. for improved life and carved a plan of studying at the University of Pennsylvania.

However, he was a great business minded man that he dumped Stanford University within two days to fully embrace the technical world.

His first companies were Zip2 and PayPal through which he built his wealth. However, his real impact came with his bold and visionary ventures: Tesla and SpaceX. 

Musk received criticism and thousands of failures, however, he remained unbending. Tesla changed the paradigm in the electric vehicle industry and people realised that the utilitarian value of electric cars is not the only thing that they should aim for when choosing a vehicle. 

However, SpaceX had broader goals, or could have, and was soaring to the literal stars if one took the time to consider. It was the first time when a private company sent a spacecraft to the International Space Station – enhancing its future missions.

The grand plan laid out by Elon Musk is not only limited to conquering space, but also in creating a progressive idea for space living. He plans to send people to Mars thus making mankind a two planet species. 

He has some conflicts of character and authenticity, as well as high temper. Still, his passion for innovation and radical thoughts motivate students from all over the globe to follow their dreams and take a lot of risks. 

That is why Musk’s life story and his approach to thinking and trying to challenge the impossible are unique examples of creativity.

6. J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is the one who originated Harry Potter. But it was not very easy for her to come to this stage. First, she married a man who had a daughter.

But after some time, they separated, she said, which was a really setback phase in her life. Two years later she finished Harry Potter but twelve publications turned it down.

Despite facing rejection, the same J.K. Rowling didn’t give up and eventually the tale of Harry Potter is the success that came out of this. She was able to work hard with a great writing skill and thus she overcame the obstacles.

The fantastic & magical ride of the wizarding world started, enchanting millions of people worldwide and making Rowing a literary giant.

7. Michael Jordan

Basketball team in his school rejected Michael Jordan based on his height. However passion yearned him to be a basketball legend.

Michael Jordan has always been a gym rat who keeps practising his shots at the basketball court. When there was a vacancy for the player, he was selected.

Michael Jordan was once a young boy whose dreams of being a basketball player were shattered by his tall stature but his hard work made him one of the best basketball players.

In addition to the incredible move of changing from an ostracised to the great basketball player, Michael Jordan’s diligence, mentoring, and the six times NBA champions – Chicago bulls make him to be among the best basketball players ever.

Even today, it is said he is touching millions of upcoming athletes globally by his spirit of perseverance.

8. Walt Disney

At the school, Walter Elias Disney was a talented boy who knew to make random cartoon sketches. At the age of 19, he began a cartoon motion picture company.

But at the age of 22, he failed and became bankrupt. Disney changed the entertainment business when he co-founded the Walt Disney Company that later grew to become one of the largest entertainment companies in the world.

Apart from Mickey Mouse he created other characters that are very iconic such as Donald Duck, Goofy among others thus making an indelible mark on popular culture.

His entrepreneurial mind led to the creation of Disneyland in the year 1955, this was one of scaled entertainment in theme parks.

Disney’s company did not die with him but developed to become a large corporation that not only deals with producing cartoons and movies but also owning radio and television networks, theme parks, and film industries.

Walt Disney is a hero for the people across the globe because of his tenacity, innovativeness and how he was able to transform challenges into opportunities whereby he was able to make people believe in the dream he had of entertaining people through his creations.

9. Colonel Sanders

There would be almost everyone who loves to take meals from the KFC food production line. But it was not easy to start something that will change the taste buds of  the world.

The beginning was not easy at all. The life of Colonel Sanders was full of rejections; besides, he did not pass his school and dropped out. After that he began some companies which became unfruitful and began selling fried chicken.

He later attempted in the food industry and established KFC the fast food restaurant where he made his delectable fried chickens famous.

He was diligent in his work which resulted in coming up with the renowned secret recipe of fried chicken and he also embarked on a process of brand establishment.

This yielded results in the future when he was able to sell the company for 2 million dollars; which was a major achievement for him in business.

Sanders’ story demonstrates that it is possible to rise up, despite the hardships one has to go through and how important it is to never give up.

10. Henry Ford

Of course, everyone knows about the Ford company. However; this was not possible to take it to such heights.

Henry Ford started his own company and secured business finance from one of the business-man but later shut down the company.

Although Ford had his share of failures and rejections, he never gave up on the dream he had of making automobiles and this laid the foundation of the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

Though the Model A was launched in 1904, the coming of age could be attributed to Ford who revolutionised the use of the assembly line in the year 1913.

This revolutionary method reduced the cost of production greatly thus making the cars affordable to the common man. His innovations have shaped the automotive as well as the industrial sector permanently.

11. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai – the girl who fought for all girls’ rights to go to school and is the youngest Nobel Prize winner. Named Malala, she was born in Pakistan’s Swat Valley and had grown to be very vocal for girl’s education. 

She had a bleak future when the Taliban seized her region and closed all schools for girls. Unabated, the young girl started blogging for the BBC under a fake identity and wrote about her experiences and her right to learn.

In 2012, the Taliban threatened Malala because of her activism and she was shot in the head on her way from school. She, however, pulled through as a real survivalist and came out even stronger; her fight for girl’s education for girls continued at the international level. 

It is not only a story of Malala’s courage but a tale of the community and people’s faith in education that can help change the world.

This young activist collaborated with the UK journalist, author, and winner of Commonwealth Writers Prize for best book for children and young adults– Christine Lamb to write a memoir of It, which quickly became a global sensation and brought creation. 

Today, she, through the Malala Fund, continues to advocate for girl’s right to twelve years of free, safe, quality education.

The transition from a girl growing up in a village in Pakistan to a woman speaking at the United Nations is inspiring, especially to young ladies; it proves that a single voice can go a long way in affecting change. 

Based on the life experience of Malala, the students are encouraged to fight for their rights despite the coming odds.

12. Stephen King

Stephen King is a well established author, who is known for his writings. After the good performance of “Carrie”, King embarked on writing many successful pieces which became his hallmark.

His individual writing approach, attractive to readers most of the time, explores the genres of horror and suspense, making him a master of this craft.

Some of his great works are The Stand, It, The Shining (which is some of the scariest novels of Stephen Kings), Misery, Holly (a crime novel set for 2023) and there are other ones in this list.

Apart from the contribution made in the literary world, King’s resilience in the face of adversity shows in his characters, making his work not only fascinating but also profoundly relatable and human.

13. Dhirubhai Ambani

When Dhirubhai Ambani was 16 years old he had to go to Yemen and work at a petrol pump because his family was from a low income bracket.

A young boy’s interaction at a Yemen petrol pump was something that wrote the script of his new phase of life.

Indeed, recognizing the opportunity in this position Ambani successfully entered the textile business where he built the marketing skills and showed a clear understanding of the market forces.

He was the founder of Reliance Corporation in 1996 which became a step for building current Reliance Industries. Later on, he expanded the business into various fields such as petrochemical, refining and telecommuting.

He also took Reliance Industries to become a world class company and made significant contributions to the growth of the India economy. Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani demonstrated the power of overall potential and turning challenges into opportunities and being an epitome of an entrepreneur.

14. Steven Spielberg

Some of the well-known film makers involved in the making of Jurassic Park is Steven Spielberg.

However, he didn’t get the opportunity to attend the School of Theater of USC because his academic performance was poor.

But even with all these problems he continued to produce some of the best films available in the industry which all loved to watch.

Prominent motion pictures include E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.

Spielberg’s commitment to storytelling excellence extends beyond the silver screen– Spielberg is now the member of the board of directors of the USC School although this education facility rejected him in the past.

15.Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is among the world’s best footballers to ever live and a testimony to hard work and determination. Coming from an era of essentially a poor family in the tiny island of Madeira in Portugal, Ronaldo’s rise to stardom was far from easy. 

Thus, he was talented from childhood, but he had a struggling family financially. Even at the tender age of 12, he abandoned his home and family in Mozambique Torome in Lisbon, Sporting CP youth academy.

Ronaldo first made his breakthrough at Manchester United, where he developed, and started to express himself as a footballer on a different level. He was accused by some circles of being ostentatious and was easily dismissed whenever he was young. 

But there was a great difference: he surpassed everyone, at least on the American front, in work capacity, training and wish to win. Ronaldo played for Real Madrid, wherein he created history and the Victory of multiple titles including the Ballon d’Or several times.

Apart from the playing field, Ronaldo is a charitable person and willing to pay it forward and that makes his story more inspiring. He often makes donations to many organisations and sometimes uses his shows to promote issues such as child hunger and after-effects disasters. 

His relentless pursuit of excellence, combined with his humility and generosity, offers a powerful lesson for students: There is a truism that one is born with talent, but greatness one earns over time.

Conclusion

The world is replete with bright and outstanding individuals to the extent that one can think of nothing that has not been achieved by someone somewhere.

All of them have contributed immensely in their various fields and are therefore constantly making imprints on any learner that tries to venture into the same field.

Whether their careers are related to fashion, entertainment, sports, or business, lots of such personalities prove that if one really wants something and tries, success is achievable.