Stories to motivate
The rejection on Michael Jorden
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.
Every body loves one
Feel good stories
Life is filled with success and failure. We all endure struggles; while many can rise above them, some find life’s challenges destroying their happiness.
So, what is it about a comeback story that makes us feel so good?
I believe these individual journeys inspire us and give us hope.
Comeback stories are about individuals who’ve achieved great things but then suffer an earth-shattering setback. Yet, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, come back they do — often even stronger than before.
A Couple Truly Inspiring Comebacks
Tennis Great Monica Seles
Monica Seles is a retired professional tennis player who became the youngest French Open champion in 1990. The following year, she was the first-ranked tennis player in the world, destined to be one of the greatest players of all time.
In 1993, during a tennis match in Hamburg, Germany, a spectator ran up behind her on the court and stabbed her between the shoulder blades with a nine-inch boning knife. Though her physical injuries healed quickly, the psychological trauma left much deeper wounds. Many thought she’d never return to tennis.
But in 1995, Seles returned to play in the Canadian Open and won her first tournament after rejoining the circuit. She went on to win two more major tennis titles before retiring in 2008, leaving the game with an impressive legacy.
Rome
The day it all changed
On Day 1 of the Time to Rise Summit, Rome had the courage to share his raw and real story. He shared that he had tried to end his life four times. He was in financial stress, going through a breakup, sleeping on a friend’s couch, and asking himself the same question over and over: “Why me?”
Then one moment shifted his destiny.
Listening to Tony on a podcast, Rome heard a line that changed everything for him:
“The biggest problem is people think they’re not supposed to have problems.”
His identity shifted. Rome saw that being a victim was a choice—and in that instant, he decided to stop being a victim.
Whether he knew it or not, Rome then shifted his Triad: the core of Tony’s 5-to-Thrive. He changed his physiology by putting on his shoes and stepping into a gym, even without knowing how he’d pay rent. His focus and language shifted too, as he stopped asking, “Why me?” and started owning his story. The problems didn’t vanish, but they stopped defining him and became a sign of life and growth, not failure.
This is the raw power of shifting just a few elements from the 5-to-Thrive framework.
Rome didn’t wait for the perfect conditions or permission. He stepped up when it mattered most. And that’s true for you too: no matter where you are in life, your next level ignites the moment you decide to rise.
So this week, don't just settle. Live your 5-to-Thrive. Own your identity. Master your physiology. Sharpen your focus. Speak with empowering language. And create a future so compelling it pulls you forward... Because your next breakthrough starts now.
Colonel Saunders
Success does not recognize age
Colonel Harland Sanders’ story is the ultimate testament to perseverance, as he launched KFC at age 65 with only a $99 social security check and a dream. After facing 1,009 rejections from restaurant owners who refused his chicken recipe, he persisted, sleeping in his car to save money before finally finding a partner. His relentless dedication turned a 1950s roadside failure into a global empire by age 88.
This video tells the inspiring story of how Colonel Sanders' persistence led to the success of KFC:
Early Life & Failures: Born in 1890, Sanders worked as a farmhand, streetcar conductor, railroad fireman, and lawyer, often failing or getting fired.
The Turning Point: At 65, after losing his successful restaurant due to a highway bypass, he was broke and living on meager savings.
The 1,009 "No's": He travelled across the U.S. pitching his "secret recipe" and pressure-cooking method. Despite being told "no" 1,009 times, he refused to give up.
Success: His 1010th attempt resulted in the first franchise, transforming his fortune and establishing a global brand.
Core Message: "Every failure can be a stepping stone to something better," said Colonel Sanders.