Setbacks are part of life. They are only final if you decide they are. Or, you can choose to keep moving forward, taking into account what you learned from failure.

George Washington thought he wasn’t fit to lead after his inexperience got many men killed in battle. But he learned from his mistakes, regained his confidence and went on to become our first president.

Walt Disneys first animated film company went bankrupt. Then Disney’s first commercially successful animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was taken from him in an unscrupulous business transaction. But Disney refused to stop. He came up with Mickey Mouse while traveling back to Hollywood after learning Oswald’s fate. Disney, and the mouse, made history.

There are many stories of others who wouldn’t quit when the odds were against them. Single mothers who work several jobs to make ends meet are true heroes. We might not know their names, but they are as important as those we do know.

Life is going to knock you around. But when you get knocked down, keep getting up. Learn from the setbacks, and pay no attention to the critics and the naysayers. They can’t see what you see…