There are many stories of people who were born in poor families and worked their way up to become rich, but these success stories are much more interesting as they are true figures who stood up to challenges and came out winners. They were once poor but have risen to be among the wealthiest people in the country, and this is a good lesson on hard work and perseverance. Below, are some inspiring success stories of individuals who shocked everyone by overcoming adversity and turning their lives around.
1. Oprah Winfrey: From humble beginnings to media mogul
Finally, Oprah Winfrey is a good example as to how far a talented and hard-working individual can come. As a poor black girl from rural Mississippi, Oprah had numerous obstacles in her way, and she was subjected to a painful childhood. However, she struggled to perform well in school though she managed to receive a scholarship to Tennessee State University.
Success: Originally, Oprah did news anchoring but she became a popular television host through her empathetic interviews. Finally she got a chance to host her own show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which received nationwide attention.
Accomplishments: Now Oprah is a billionaire, media mogul, actress, and charity worker. From rags to riches, she is one of the most powerful women in the world today, this is a testament of her hard working nature.
2. Howard Schultz: From the Projects to Starbucks CEO
Howard Schultz was born in and raised in a public housing project in Brooklyn called the Canarsie Bayview Houses. He observed the difficulties of the impoverished because his own family faced financial hardship when he was young.
Success: Schultz was also able to attend Northern Michigan University on football scholarship. Upon his graduation, he secured a job in the business world and particularly landed a job at a small company termed as Starbucks which dealt with sale of coffee.
Accomplishments: While taking the leadership of the company, Schultz changed the course of Starbucks from a local company selling roasted coffee beans to a company with coffee houses all over the world. These were the ways that Schultz expanded his business from a small stand on the streets of Tampa to a billion dollar earnings empire.
3. J.K. Rowling: From Welfare to Worldwide Fame
It is imperative to note that before the release of the Harry Porter books, Rowling was a single mother struggling on welfare schemes in Edinburgh Scotland. Being depressed and a single mother with no money Rowling started writing her first Harry Potter book in a café while her baby daughter was sleeping beside her.
Success: However, Rowling was not discouraged by the numerous rejections by different publishers. When her manuscript was accepted, she joined Bloomsbury Publishing and “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was published in 1997.
Accomplishments: The series turned into a global success and Rowling is now one of richest and influential authors of the contemporary world. Her story is an inspiring and clear example that passion, determination, and an ability to think outside the box always pay off.
4. Chris Gardner: From Homelessness to Wall Street
I must say that Chris Gardner’s story from the life of a struggling man to a financially stable man is very touching. Gardner’s life in the early 1980s was far from a happy one: he was a salesman who lost his job, a single father, and a homeless man living in San Francisco with his son.
Success: Gardner was not ready to let go of his dreams and to ensure that his son has a better life he got an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm. Despite the odds stacked against him to the extent that he lived in homeless shelters, he was able to work hard to achieve his goals.
Accomplishments: Gardner rose to be among the highest paid employees at the firm, and he founded his own brokerage firm known as Gardner Rich & Co. His rags to success story was depicted in the motion picture known as The Pursuit of Happyness featuring Will Smith. By following the story of Gardner, one can easily pick traits such as persistence and the will to prevail over the odds.
5. Ralph Lauren: From the Bronx to Fashion Icon
The founder of Ralph Lauren’s Corporation, Ralph Lifshitz, was born and raised in a Jewish family in Bronx, New York. His parents were immigrants and used to struggle to survive, but they needed to adapt and sustain their life; Ralph was fond of dressing from his childhood.
Success: Lauren started his fashion career from selling small homemade ties to shops that were in New York. He came up with extremely original designs that attracted the attention of the best stores; finally, he started his own line of men’s ties with the Polo label.
Achievements: Currently, the company is associated with the luxury and sophistication of an American lifestyle. Ralph Lauren is a multinational corporation in fashion, and the man behind the company is worth his billions. He shares his experience and it can be seen that creativity and desire to become an entrepreneur are important.
Conclusion
These great rags to riches tales are a wakeup call, and a confirmation that no matter how humble your beginning, you can still make it. Oprah Winfrey, Howard Schultz, J.K Rowling, Chris Gardner and Ralph Lauren are all people who went through many troubles but began to turn their lives for the better by overcoming obstacles and keeping on going.
Each of them makes us think about our strengths, resilience, and the possibility to build a better future. This suggests that even when there are hurdles on the way, it is possible to achieve success if one goes for it with a dogged determination and passion.
