struggle Let me share someone's life history with you: This was a man who failed in business at the age of 21; Was defeated in a legislative race at age 22; Failed again in business at age 24; Overcame the death of his sweetheart at age 26; Had a nervous breakdown at age 27; Lost a congressional race at age 34; Lost a senatorial race at age 45; Failed in an effort to become vice-president at age 47; Lost a senatorial race at age 49; And he was elected president of the United States at age 52. This man was ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Every success story is also a story of great failure.