It might surprise you that every successful person has a long list of failures and rejections. J.K. Rowlings was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter was published. Moby Dick took years to be accepted. The Beatles were initially rejected by Decca Records, before they went on to fame.

What can we learn from these examples? It could be said that failure and rejection are the forerunners of success. Before we succeed, we will fail many times.

In my book, "Secrets from the Sofa," I emphasize that it is crucial that you perceive of yourself as a capable person. Success is virtually guaranteed when a person focuses, keeps trying, and adjusts their approach until they get the results that they want.

When faced with adversity and rejection, many people will give up and quit. However, it is "trial and error" that helps us to discover what works and is effective.

That's why I'd like you to think of failures and mistakes as stepping stones to achieving your goal. It took Thomas Edison 1,000 tries to perfect the light bulb. He didn't consider those tries failures, because they were steps to achieving his goal. You should do the same!

When I coached baseball, I taught each child that he could be a good player if he put forth his best effort. Of course, some people are better ballplayers that others. However, a person who sticks with something (or preserves) is more likely to succeed.

Mistakes and shortcomings are an opportunity to improve. When we make a mistake, we understand what doesn't work. Henry Ford, the inventor of the Model-T Ford automobile, once said, "I've tried so many things that didn't work. I finally found something that works!"

When something doesn't work, there is no need to give up. What slight adjustment can you make, to get a different result? Perhaps you can try something different, or adjust your approach.

Failure is an opportunity to try again more intelligently. When you experience failure or rejection, learn from your experiences and come back stronger. Pick yourself up, change your approach (or try something different) and try again.

Today, I challenge you to boldly pursue your dreams. Decide in advance, to take every setback as a spur towards greater effort, knowing that you are getting closer and closer to your goals. And never, never, never give up on your dreams!