Successful people learn from their failures

Allow me to tell you a story about a man who was born in 1924 in Allentown, Penn. to Italian immigrant parents. He graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in mechanical engineering after graduating from high school.

He then began a career at Ford Motor Company as an engineer, later switching to sales and moved up through the ranks becoming head of the production department. He was involved with the design of several Ford automobiles, including the Mustang.

Eventually, he became president of Ford Motor Co.; however, he and Henry Ford, II did not see things eye to eye, so he was fired.

After being dismissed from Ford, he became chairman of the Chrysler Corporation, which was on the verge of going out of business. He approached the U.S. Congress in 1979 asking for and receiving a loan guarantee in order to keep Chrysler afloat.

By now, most of you know that it was Lee Iacocca who turned Chrysler around saving thousands of jobs for Americans, and repaying the government backed loan seven years earlier than required. Successful people learn from their failures.

The next success story we will look at today is about a child actor who began his career at the age of four. At age 10, he was a regular on the television variety program, “Star Time Kids.”

His acting career slowed during his teenage years as he made only one film, “The Debt Collector,” which did poorly at the box office.

Our subject dropped out of acting and returned to New York to run an Italian restaurant. One of the few people to see his last film, Robert DeNiro, brought it to the attention of film director, Martin Scorsese.

Later, he left the restaurant business to accept a role in “Raging Bull.” His performance in the film earned him an Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category.

The actor we are referring to today later appeared in “Lethal Weapon Two,” “My Cousin Vinnie,” “Home Alone” and “Good Fellas,” a film that won him Best Supporting actor honors for his vivid portrayal of a psychotic mobster.

Joe Pesci, one of the most respected and busiest character actors in the film business. Again, successful people learn from their failures.

In closing, let me share with you a few things most of us have learned over the years.

• If someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.

• You should never be too busy to say “please” and “thank you.”

• Good advice is hard to give but even harder to follow.

• It is hard to argue with someone when they are right.

• Trust is the single most important factor in both personal and professional relationships.

• Nothing of value comes without effort.

• Every task is meaningful if I do it in the right spirit.

• Enthusiasm is caught not taught.

• You can tell a lot about a man by the happiness of his wife and the respect given him by his children.

• Almost no quality product sells for a cheap price.

• A strong code of ethics is as reliable as a compass.

• It does not cost anything to be nice.

• It is better to be married to someone with a good nature than a good physique.

Take a few moments to add some things you have learned over the years to the above list.

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