I'm looking into do a biography project for my students. I'd like for them to work in groups and research famous people who have reached success in various ways mainly through significant hard work and beating the odds. For example, Oprah Winfrey pops into mind because of her life of poverty and then her gradual progress into being one of the most successful woman in the world. Bill Clinton also comes to mind because he too came from poverty. I'd like for them to come from poverty but some how beat the odds. Someone suggested Floyd Mayweather Jr. (the professional boxer, came from extreme poverty and misguided parents... super successful and rich now) but I'd rather not because 1) he's super cocky, lol, and 2) he dropped out of school I believe. Any ideas on people who have beat the odds?
http://www.amazon.com/Against-All-Odds-Entrepreneurs-Enterprise/dp/0471374725 http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-02-08-oher08_CV_N.htm http://annecarolinedrake.com/2010/0...se-whose-inspiring-story-do-you-want-to-read/
-Jimmy Carter lived in public housing before he rose to become the president of the United States. While often vilified, many of today's highest ranking executives rose through the ranks, starting in very low positions. -John Stumpf, the CEO of Wells Fargo, was a farmer's kid, started out in the banking industry as a repo man and worked his way through school in order to rise through the ranks. -Jim Skinner, CEO of McDonalds started as a manager trainee. -Brian Dunn, CEO of Best Buy started as a regular, in the store, salesperson. -Jim Ziemer, CEO of Harley-Davidson started his professional career as a freight elevator operator. -Anne Mulcahy, former CEO of the Xerox Corporation started as a field sales representative. Mail Rooms seem to be a popular entry level job for future executives. Here's a list of high rollers who started their careers sorting mail: -Dan Adler, Vice President at Walt Disney, (his father was a Holocaust survivor...a rather remarkable turn of fortunes in just one generation). -Wally Amos, of "Famous Amos" fame, lived with his aunt, before he struck out on his own. -Simon Cowell -Barry Diller, President at Expedia. -Richard Grasso, former chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. -Richard Meyer, President and COO of Universal Studios -Sidney Weinberg, Former CEO of Goldman Sachs.
Pat Tillman, NFL player who gave up his career to serve (and was killed in the line of duty) for his country. BTW, don't do Mayweather. He is not someone for kids to look up to.
