Many people have great desires but are daunted by their lack of education and, thereby, are prevented from moving forward with their goals. But is education truly the key to success? Let’s look at a few examples of famous people who have experienced tremendous success despite their lack of education. Henry Ford, for one, quit school at age fifteen, yet he succeeded in mass-producing the Model T automobile and revolutionizing industry and transportation in this country. How was such a thing possible for an uneducated young man? It was possible primarily because he had a burning desire to do it! The Wright brothers yearned, with every fiber of their being, to fly through the air. As a result, they invented the airplane, despite the fact that neither received a high school diploma. Thomas Edison had only limited schooling, yet he invented the incandescent light bulb, motion pictures, and the phonograph, to name just a few of his many contributions. It is uncertain how many attempts Thomas Edison made in creating the light bulb before he tasted sweet success—anywhere from seven hundred to ten thousand times. When asked publicly, “How many times are you going to fail at the light bulb?” he replied, “I have not failed, but found another way the light bulb did not work.” Talk about persistence, desire, and a positive attitude!

     These individuals attempted and failed hundreds of times, but they forged on anyway, mostly out of pure desire and a belief in what was possible. This is not to devalue hard work or education in any way, but only to emphasize the importance of passion, persistence, and adherence to a dream.