My hope is that you can use this handout with our teams to show an example that even the greatest achievers of all time have dealt with adversity. It documents the failures of Abraham Lincoln endured on his way to becoming one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the United States.
1831 – FAILED IN BUSINESS
1832 – DEFEATED FOR THE HOUSE
1834 – FAILED IN BUSINESS
1836 – NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
1838 – LOST AN ELECTION
1843 – LOST CONGRESSIONAL RACE
1846 – RAN FOR OFFICE AND LOST
1848 – RAN FOR OFFICE AND LOST
1855 – LOST SENATE RACE
1856 – UNSUCCESSFUL IN HIS BID FOR VICE PRESIDENCY
1858 – LOST SENATE RACE
1860 – BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
It’s not where you start—it’s where you finish that matters.
Check out some of our other basketball prose and basketball poems!
Here are some quotes from Abraham Lincoln that are in our basketball quotes section:
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
“I will prepare, and someday my chance will come.”
