I was inspired by American Top 40 Countdown.  You might have heard of the band Lady Antebellum (Yes, it is a band, not a person).  Nevertheless, there is a lady in the band: Hillary Scott.

Hillary failed twice at American Idol.  Yes, she tried and did not make it past the first-stage auditions.

So she tried again.  And the second time, she also failed to make it past the first-stage auditions.

Don’t worry, Hillary.  You join a n auspicious line of “losers”, including Abraham Lincoln:

• Started a business – bankrupt.
• Ran for state legislature – lost.
• Applied to law school – rejected.
• Started a business – bankrupt.
• Ran for state legislature again – won.
• Engaged when his sweetheart died – heart broken.
• Had nervous breakdown – bed-ridden for six months.
• Ran for speaker of the state legislature – lost.
• Ran for elector – lost.
• Ran for Congress – lost.
• Ran for Congress again – won.
• Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.
• Sought the job of state land officer – rejected.
• Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.
• Sought Vice-Presidential nomination – lost.
• Ran for U.S. Senate again – lost.
• Elected president of the United States.

READ ALSO: Define success

And Canada’s John Diefenbaker:

• Moved to Wakaw to practice law – locals refused to rent him office space.
• Ran for village council – won.
• Ran for Parliament – lost.
• Ran for Parliament again – lost.
• Ran for provincial legislature – lost.
• Ran for mayor of Prince Albert – lost.
• Elected provincial party leader by default (nobody else wanted the job)
• Ran for Premier – lost and lost his seat.
• Ran for Parliament – won.
• Ran for federal party leader – lost.
• Ran for federal party leader – won.
• Ran for Prime Minister – and won three consecutive elections.