Never Give Up Your Dreams

As an entrepreneur, Fred Smith knows better than most that success often comes to those who don't give up. For Smith, the lesson began in college.
As a graduate student at Harvard University, Smith was excited to discover one of his class assignments was to develop a business plan. The students would develop the plans and the professor would grade the work on the viability of a fictitious business.
Smith came up with the idea for a one-of-a-kind, overnight package delivery business. The more and more he became involved in the project, the more passionate he became. He really felt the business could work. He spent day and night fine-tuning the business plan and finally submitted his dream to the Ivy League professor.
His grade: C. The professor said the business would never work.
Smith decided to prove the professor wrong. When he graduated, he began turning that plan into the American dream. Today, smith's dream is Federal Express, a billion dollar company.
And when you walk into the Memphis, Tenn., headquarters of Federal Express, you'll find Smith's original college paper framed for all to see. Complete with a red C slashed through the top. The paper sites in the front lobby to remind Smith and his employees of a simple lesson: Never give up on your dreams.
All successful entrepreneurs possess two important characteristics--passion and perseverance. In order to succeed, these entrepreneurs never allow naysayers to bring down their dream.