What do Michael Oher, Shania Twain, and Steve Jobs have in common? It’s definitely not just the fame and money. Beneath the façade of renown in the world of sports, the iconic country-to-pop-music crossover, and the distinction of having revolutionized consumer electronics and computing is an inspiring struggle and success story worth pondering over. They have become famous not only because they achieved success. People look up to them because of how they made success.
Michael Oher
The name “Michael Oher” reached and touched hearts through the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game and the award-winning movie, The Blind Side. Michael Oher may have not achieved a feat comparable to those of Michael Phelps’s or Michael Jordan’s but his story proves to be equally inspiring.
Born May 28, 1986, Michael Jerome Oher was one of twelve children to an alcoholic and drug addict mother. Michael’s childhood was spent with little to no attention and parental care. He had to be homeless and to move from one foster home to another at a very young age. Help, nevertheless, came when it was critically needed through a kind family who adopted Michael and treated him as their own son. Fortunately, the neglected Michael was not one to refuse help. Despite his bitter past, he was ready to embrace a new life among welcoming strangers who guided him to become successful. Currently a professional football player, Michael Oher now lives the good life. Signing a multimillion contract to play for the Baltimore Ravens and getting voted second for the Associated Press’ NFL Offensive Rookie of Year Award seem to be mere bonuses.
Shania Twain
The gorgeous musician who found eyebrow-raising success at Nashville and later smashed records in the mainstream pop music industry doesn’t look like one who has been through a lot of hardships. After all, she is the woman with the ideal face based on a study conducted by a team of US and Canadian researchers. The pretty face pretty much conceals everything negative. Her attractive figure belies the fact that she had been through some of the worst beatings in life. Her life exemplifies resilience.
Shania Twain was born to a poor family. She had to live a rough life in her youth despite being a girl with a relatively small frame. Food was scarce in her family’s household so she had to learn how to hunt and chop wood during her younger years. It didn’t help that she also had to witness her parents violently fight often and eventually file for divorce. Shania’s mother died while she was still young and she took the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. If it’s any consolation, she had a good start in the music industry by singing in bars for a living where she would eventually be discovered.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs may not be just a face for Macbooks, iPads, and iPhones. He may also be the poster boy for an unrelenting determination to succeed. Yes, he made billions but it’s no secret that he was once kicked out of the very company he himself created. He experienced multiple failures in his career. He didn’t finish college. He was abandoned by his biological parents but that didn’t send him to depression or self pitying. Instead, he persevered. He learned how to have a vision. Braving the odds, he did everything doable to make his visions into realities. Thanks to the relentless Steve Jobs, America is left with a successful company that weathers the inclement economic climate to still generate the very much needed…jobs.
