Top 28 Inspirational Men And Women Their Most Inspiring Quotes
Stuck in a rut? Check out this list of 10 men who lived life to the full no matter what it threw at them. From sportsmen to politicians, they have all excelled in their respective fields and are sure to leave you feeling motivated and inspired.
Muhammad Ali's mantra of "I am the greatest" helped him on his way to becoming widely regarded as the greatest athlete of all time
Inspirational man 1: Muhammad Ali
A fitting advert for the power of self-confidence if ever there was one, Muhammad Ali’s mantra of “I am the greatest” helped him on his way to becoming widely regarded as the greatest athlete of all time. Following a boxing career that contained some of the greatest fights ever seen (see our Top 10 best sporting moments of all time), Ali dedicated himself to helping others, and is now recognised for his humanitarian efforts just as much as his power in the ring.
Inspirational man 2: Richard Branson
Richard Branson didn’t let the fact that he struggled in school get him down, and dedicated himself to becoming a self made entrepreneur at just 17 years of age. In 1970 he started a small record business out of the basement of a church, and by 1978 he was a multi-millionaire and owned his own private tropical island. He is now the head of a business empire worth billions, and it’s safe to say that the teachers who doubted him in school are having second thoughts about his abilities.
Inspirational man 3: Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the UK during World War 2, the largest global conflict of all time. His talent for inspirational speeches kept the British population going through these bleak years, with his never-say-die attitude spreading throughout the nation like wildfire. Churchill’s belief in resilience and perseverance was summed up with one of his most famous quotes, which we would all do well to live by: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Inspirational man 4: Sean Swarner
Despite being the only person in the world to have suffered from both Hodgkin's Disease and Askin's sarcoma, Sean Swarner defied all the odds and miraculously survived. Not content with simply beating cancer, he thoroughly showed it who was boss by completing the Seven Peak Challenge, which involves climbing the highest mountain on every continent. Not bad for someone who at one point was given only two weeks to live.
Inspirational man 5: Neil Armstrong
When Neil Armstrong directed his lunar module towards the surface of the moon he was faced with blaring warning alarms in the cockpit, a proposed landing site that was actually full of giant boulders, and a computer that wasn’t working properly. Nobody could have blamed him for panicking in this situation, yet Armstrong calmly directed the craft to another landing point, and brought it down with just 25 seconds of fuel left. He then became the first man to walk on the moon, and is a true testament to the benefits of staying calm and collected when faced with stress or danger.
Inspirational man 6: Bruce Lee
Arguably the most well known martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee’s fame didn’t come without some serious hard work. He trained two or three times every day, and spent countless hours perfecting his own personal techniques and nutritional methods. After a back injury, Lee was once told he could never practice martial arts again, but through dedication and perseverance was able to completely recover and carry on making movies and winning tournaments left, right and centre.
Inspirational man 7: Michael Jordan
In his first training session as an 18 year old rookie for the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan took part in a mini game where the losing team would have to run laps as a punishment. Jordan practically single handedly took his team to an 8-0 lead, only for the coach to switch him to the other side. Unphased, his new team scored 10 points without conceding to win the game 10-8. This attitude of overcoming any challenge he was faced with led him to a hugely successful career in basketball, which was reflected by one of his most famous quotes: “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”
Inspirational man 8: Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King used the power of speech and peaceful protest to spearhead the civil rights movement in the United States, and changed the lives of millions of people in doing so. It’s impossible to listen to his renowned “I have a dream” speech without feeling inspired, so it’s no surprise to hear it was voted the top American speech of the 20th century.
Inspirational man 9: William Kamkwamba
Even though his parents couldn’t afford to keep sending him to school, Malawian teenager William Kamkwamba still had a hunger for learning so paid a visit his local library. After reading a book about energy he decided to attempt to build a windmill for his village, despite the limited resources available to him. Using trees and scrap parts he was able to build a functioning windmill and provide electricity for his small village. He went on to speak at a global science conference and have a book written about him because of his ingenuity and resourcefulness.
Inspirational man 10: Stephen Hawking
Possibly the greatest scientific mind of his generation, Stephen Hawking has refused to let his disability hold him back, gaining worldwide fame for his sizeable contribution to science. He has written bestselling books, travelled the world, experienced weightlessness, and been honoured by institutes the world over. He has proven that no matter what set-backs you face, life is what you make of it.
Take a look at this list of 10 inspirational women and some of their most inspiring quotes. From Rosa Parks to Billy Jean King, these inspirational women will leave you feeling inspired, confident, and ready to make the most of your life.
Inspirational Women 11 : Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes' was a career full of set-backs and challenges, but one that ultimately had a happy ending. After years of trying for Olympic gold, her last chance came at the 2004 Games – a chance that was almost taken away from her by a leg injury. Despite suffering severe depression as a result of this, Kelly was able to battle through the injury through sheer determination, and ended up going above and beyond her wildest dreams by winning double Olympic gold in the 800m and 1500m, describing it as something she would "never ever forget". We don't blame her!
Inspirational Women 12 : Mother Teresa
For those of you asking "who is Mother Teresa?" - shame on you! After a life dedicated to charity and humanitarian work, she is regarded as one of the most selfless people to have ever lived, and her efforts were recognized in 1979 when she won the Nobel Peace Prize. However, one of the most admirable things about Mother Teresa is that she wasn't doing it for the recognition – she spent nearly 30 years of her life helping others before anybody even knew who she was. She believed in doing whatever was possible to help, whether big or small, with her philosophy being; "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
Inspirational Women 13 : Joan of Arc
“Stand up for what you believe in” is a great phrase to live by, and nobody did this more so than Joan of Arc. She campaigned for the instatement of the ‘true king’ to the French throne because she believed it was God's will, and led the French armies in fighting their English invaders. Joan of Arc was a great believer in destiny, once claiming "I am not afraid, I was born to do this." At a time when a woman on the battlefield was unheard of she eventually led her army to victory, fearlessly fighting and eventually dying to defend her country and strong beliefs.
Inspirational Women 14 : Marilyn Monroe
Norma Jean Baker, or 'Marilyn Monroe' as she is better known, made a hugely successful career out of her good looks and uncanny ability to understand what the world wanted to see. Despite her ditzy blonde image and demeanour, Norma Jean knew exactly what she was doing and it's no coincidence that she became as famous as she did. Not content to let leading men hog the spotlight, she took extensive acting lessons to improve herself, because in her opinion; “Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”
Inspirational Women 15 : Oprah Winfrey
Simply through being compassionate, caring and charitable, Oprah Winfrey has made an astronomically successful career for herself. She shot to fame as an interviewer when her ability to emotionally connect with her guests struck a chord with the American public, and since then has gone from strength to strength. In 2003 she became the first African-American woman to be classed as a billionaire, yet in true Oprah style shares her wealth with those who need it most, having personally donated over $300 million to charitable causes. Oprah's wealth and fame is certainly no accident, as she believes that luck is simply "preparation meeting opportunity".
Inspirational Women 16 : Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart's is a story of both success and tragedy, full of adventuring and pioneering for women's rights. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and was rewarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross for her efforts – again, she was the first woman to receive this. While other women were being held back by a male dominated society, Amelia was soaring through the clouds, breaking records, and having the time of her life. Her message to other women was that "the woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune."
Amelia Earhart in an aircraft's cockpit
Inspirational Women 17 : Billie Jean King
With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name and 6 separate spells as world number one, Billie Jean King is undoubtedly one of the greatest female tennis players to ever grace the game – however, it is her battle for equal rights for sporting women that she will be truly remembered for. In 1973 she took on and defeated self professed chauvinist Bobby Riggs in 'The Battle of the Sexes’. A former world number one himself, Riggs' defeat proved once and for all that women deserved both respect and equality in the world of sport. This wasn't just about tennis though, as Billie Jean King described sports as "a microcosm of society", and believed her actions could help improve women's rights all over the world.
Inspirational Women 18 : J. K. Rowling
From single mother living on benefits to multi-millionaire author in the space of a few years; if ever you needed proof that you should follow your dreams, J. K. Rowling is just that. After multiple rejections from publishers she finally secured a print run of 1,000 copies for her first book, which you just might have heard of – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Fast forward a few years and the Harry Potter series has sold over 400 million copies, spawned a whole film franchise, and almost single-handedly made reading cool again for kids. If you feel inspired by this story then be sure to take her belief that "anything's possible if you've got enough nerve" to heart.
Inspirational Women 19 : Princess Diana
After marrying into the royal family, Princess Diana could simply have sat back and enjoyed a life of relaxation and luxury without a care in the world. However, she took it upon herself to use her celebrity status to help as many people as possible, becoming the figurehead for charity campaigns around the world. Someone who had everything and was eager to share it with is many people as possible, Diana was an inspiration to people in all walks of life, and her death was met with worldwide mourning. Diana's selfess attitude is summed up by one of her most famous quotes; "Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can."
Inspirational Women 20 : Rosa Parks
Refusing to give up a seat on a bus may seem like a simple feat, but when Rosa Parks did it in 1955 it was nothing short of unheard of. As an African American, Parks was legally obliged to give up her seat at the request of a white person – something she simply wasn’t willing to do. The courage she showed in that instance sparked the civil rights movement in America, and her simple act of defiance changed the lives of millions of people. "I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen" was the quote that Rosa Parks best used to describe the reasoning behind her act of defiance.
Muhammad Ali's mantra of "I am the greatest" helped him on his way to becoming widely regarded as the greatest athlete of all time
Inspirational man 1: Muhammad Ali
A fitting advert for the power of self-confidence if ever there was one, Muhammad Ali’s mantra of “I am the greatest” helped him on his way to becoming widely regarded as the greatest athlete of all time. Following a boxing career that contained some of the greatest fights ever seen (see our Top 10 best sporting moments of all time), Ali dedicated himself to helping others, and is now recognised for his humanitarian efforts just as much as his power in the ring.
Inspirational man 2: Richard Branson
Richard Branson didn’t let the fact that he struggled in school get him down, and dedicated himself to becoming a self made entrepreneur at just 17 years of age. In 1970 he started a small record business out of the basement of a church, and by 1978 he was a multi-millionaire and owned his own private tropical island. He is now the head of a business empire worth billions, and it’s safe to say that the teachers who doubted him in school are having second thoughts about his abilities.
Inspirational man 3: Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the UK during World War 2, the largest global conflict of all time. His talent for inspirational speeches kept the British population going through these bleak years, with his never-say-die attitude spreading throughout the nation like wildfire. Churchill’s belief in resilience and perseverance was summed up with one of his most famous quotes, which we would all do well to live by: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Inspirational man 4: Sean Swarner
Despite being the only person in the world to have suffered from both Hodgkin's Disease and Askin's sarcoma, Sean Swarner defied all the odds and miraculously survived. Not content with simply beating cancer, he thoroughly showed it who was boss by completing the Seven Peak Challenge, which involves climbing the highest mountain on every continent. Not bad for someone who at one point was given only two weeks to live.
Inspirational man 5: Neil Armstrong
When Neil Armstrong directed his lunar module towards the surface of the moon he was faced with blaring warning alarms in the cockpit, a proposed landing site that was actually full of giant boulders, and a computer that wasn’t working properly. Nobody could have blamed him for panicking in this situation, yet Armstrong calmly directed the craft to another landing point, and brought it down with just 25 seconds of fuel left. He then became the first man to walk on the moon, and is a true testament to the benefits of staying calm and collected when faced with stress or danger.
Inspirational man 6: Bruce Lee
Arguably the most well known martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee’s fame didn’t come without some serious hard work. He trained two or three times every day, and spent countless hours perfecting his own personal techniques and nutritional methods. After a back injury, Lee was once told he could never practice martial arts again, but through dedication and perseverance was able to completely recover and carry on making movies and winning tournaments left, right and centre.
Inspirational man 7: Michael Jordan
In his first training session as an 18 year old rookie for the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan took part in a mini game where the losing team would have to run laps as a punishment. Jordan practically single handedly took his team to an 8-0 lead, only for the coach to switch him to the other side. Unphased, his new team scored 10 points without conceding to win the game 10-8. This attitude of overcoming any challenge he was faced with led him to a hugely successful career in basketball, which was reflected by one of his most famous quotes: “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”
Inspirational man 8: Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King used the power of speech and peaceful protest to spearhead the civil rights movement in the United States, and changed the lives of millions of people in doing so. It’s impossible to listen to his renowned “I have a dream” speech without feeling inspired, so it’s no surprise to hear it was voted the top American speech of the 20th century.
Inspirational man 9: William Kamkwamba
Even though his parents couldn’t afford to keep sending him to school, Malawian teenager William Kamkwamba still had a hunger for learning so paid a visit his local library. After reading a book about energy he decided to attempt to build a windmill for his village, despite the limited resources available to him. Using trees and scrap parts he was able to build a functioning windmill and provide electricity for his small village. He went on to speak at a global science conference and have a book written about him because of his ingenuity and resourcefulness.
Inspirational man 10: Stephen Hawking
Possibly the greatest scientific mind of his generation, Stephen Hawking has refused to let his disability hold him back, gaining worldwide fame for his sizeable contribution to science. He has written bestselling books, travelled the world, experienced weightlessness, and been honoured by institutes the world over. He has proven that no matter what set-backs you face, life is what you make of it.
Take a look at this list of 10 inspirational women and some of their most inspiring quotes. From Rosa Parks to Billy Jean King, these inspirational women will leave you feeling inspired, confident, and ready to make the most of your life.
Inspirational Women 11 : Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes' was a career full of set-backs and challenges, but one that ultimately had a happy ending. After years of trying for Olympic gold, her last chance came at the 2004 Games – a chance that was almost taken away from her by a leg injury. Despite suffering severe depression as a result of this, Kelly was able to battle through the injury through sheer determination, and ended up going above and beyond her wildest dreams by winning double Olympic gold in the 800m and 1500m, describing it as something she would "never ever forget". We don't blame her!
Inspirational Women 12 : Mother Teresa
For those of you asking "who is Mother Teresa?" - shame on you! After a life dedicated to charity and humanitarian work, she is regarded as one of the most selfless people to have ever lived, and her efforts were recognized in 1979 when she won the Nobel Peace Prize. However, one of the most admirable things about Mother Teresa is that she wasn't doing it for the recognition – she spent nearly 30 years of her life helping others before anybody even knew who she was. She believed in doing whatever was possible to help, whether big or small, with her philosophy being; "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
Inspirational Women 13 : Joan of Arc
“Stand up for what you believe in” is a great phrase to live by, and nobody did this more so than Joan of Arc. She campaigned for the instatement of the ‘true king’ to the French throne because she believed it was God's will, and led the French armies in fighting their English invaders. Joan of Arc was a great believer in destiny, once claiming "I am not afraid, I was born to do this." At a time when a woman on the battlefield was unheard of she eventually led her army to victory, fearlessly fighting and eventually dying to defend her country and strong beliefs.
Inspirational Women 14 : Marilyn Monroe
Norma Jean Baker, or 'Marilyn Monroe' as she is better known, made a hugely successful career out of her good looks and uncanny ability to understand what the world wanted to see. Despite her ditzy blonde image and demeanour, Norma Jean knew exactly what she was doing and it's no coincidence that she became as famous as she did. Not content to let leading men hog the spotlight, she took extensive acting lessons to improve herself, because in her opinion; “Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”
Inspirational Women 15 : Oprah Winfrey
Simply through being compassionate, caring and charitable, Oprah Winfrey has made an astronomically successful career for herself. She shot to fame as an interviewer when her ability to emotionally connect with her guests struck a chord with the American public, and since then has gone from strength to strength. In 2003 she became the first African-American woman to be classed as a billionaire, yet in true Oprah style shares her wealth with those who need it most, having personally donated over $300 million to charitable causes. Oprah's wealth and fame is certainly no accident, as she believes that luck is simply "preparation meeting opportunity".
Inspirational Women 16 : Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart's is a story of both success and tragedy, full of adventuring and pioneering for women's rights. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and was rewarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross for her efforts – again, she was the first woman to receive this. While other women were being held back by a male dominated society, Amelia was soaring through the clouds, breaking records, and having the time of her life. Her message to other women was that "the woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune."
Amelia Earhart in an aircraft's cockpit
Inspirational Women 17 : Billie Jean King
With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name and 6 separate spells as world number one, Billie Jean King is undoubtedly one of the greatest female tennis players to ever grace the game – however, it is her battle for equal rights for sporting women that she will be truly remembered for. In 1973 she took on and defeated self professed chauvinist Bobby Riggs in 'The Battle of the Sexes’. A former world number one himself, Riggs' defeat proved once and for all that women deserved both respect and equality in the world of sport. This wasn't just about tennis though, as Billie Jean King described sports as "a microcosm of society", and believed her actions could help improve women's rights all over the world.
Inspirational Women 18 : J. K. Rowling
From single mother living on benefits to multi-millionaire author in the space of a few years; if ever you needed proof that you should follow your dreams, J. K. Rowling is just that. After multiple rejections from publishers she finally secured a print run of 1,000 copies for her first book, which you just might have heard of – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Fast forward a few years and the Harry Potter series has sold over 400 million copies, spawned a whole film franchise, and almost single-handedly made reading cool again for kids. If you feel inspired by this story then be sure to take her belief that "anything's possible if you've got enough nerve" to heart.
Inspirational Women 19 : Princess Diana
After marrying into the royal family, Princess Diana could simply have sat back and enjoyed a life of relaxation and luxury without a care in the world. However, she took it upon herself to use her celebrity status to help as many people as possible, becoming the figurehead for charity campaigns around the world. Someone who had everything and was eager to share it with is many people as possible, Diana was an inspiration to people in all walks of life, and her death was met with worldwide mourning. Diana's selfess attitude is summed up by one of her most famous quotes; "Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can."
Inspirational Women 20 : Rosa Parks
Refusing to give up a seat on a bus may seem like a simple feat, but when Rosa Parks did it in 1955 it was nothing short of unheard of. As an African American, Parks was legally obliged to give up her seat at the request of a white person – something she simply wasn’t willing to do. The courage she showed in that instance sparked the civil rights movement in America, and her simple act of defiance changed the lives of millions of people. "I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen" was the quote that Rosa Parks best used to describe the reasoning behind her act of defiance.
Inspirational Man 21 : Nick Vujicic: a man with no limbs who teaches people how to get up
"I'm happy; why aren't you?" asks Nick Vujicic, an Australian man born with the rare Tetra-amelia syndrome.
Despite being limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having only one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh, he is doing surf, he's swimming, playing golf and soccer. Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning and became a motivational speaker with a focus on life with a disability, hope and finding meaning in life.
Having addressed over 3 million people in over 44 countries on five continents, he also spreads his message of hope on his book Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, published in 2010.
Inspirational Man 22 : Nando Parrado: survived airplane crash and 72 days in the Andes
72 days of ordeal Nando Parrado and other survivors of a plane crash in the Andes had to endure before being rescued.
Flying over the mountains on a Friday the 13th, the young men and their families who boarded the charter plane joked about the unlucky day when the plane's wing hit the slope of the mountain and crashed. On impact, 13 passengers were instantly dead while 32 others were badly wounded. Hoping to be rescued, the survivors waited in the freezing -37C temperature, melting snow for drinks and sleeping side by side to keep themselves warm. Food was so scarce, everyone had to pool whatever food they can find for a rationed pool.
9 days after the crash, due to dire desperation and hunger, the survivors called for an important meeting. One member proposed that they eat the dead. The 2 hours meeting ended with a conclusion. If any of them died in the Andes, the rest had the permission to use the corpse as food. After 2 weeks, their hope of being found dashed when they found out via their radio transistor that the rescue effort was called off.
On the 60th day after the crash, Nando Parrado and 2 other friends decided to walk through the icy wilderness for help. By the time they left, Nando Parrado said, the crash site was “.. an awful place, soaked in urine, smelling of death, littered with ragged bits of human bone and gristle”. Wearing 3 pairs of jeans and 3 sweaters over a polo shirt, he and his friends trekked the mountains with human flesh as their ration.
Knowing that they must search for rescue, the team endured frozen snow, exhaustion and starvation, walking and climbing for 10 days before finding their way to the bottom of the mountain. The team was finally helped by a Chilean farmer who called the police for help. Parrado then guided the rescue team via a helicopter to the crash site.
On the 22nd December 1972, after enduring 72 brutal days, the world found out that there were 16 survivors who cheated death, in the mountain of Andes. 8 of the initial survivors died when an avalanche cascaded down on them as they slept in the fuselage.
During the ordeal, Nando Parrado lost 40 kg of his weight. He lost half his family in the crash. He is now a motivational speaker.
His book Miracle in the Andes was published in 2007.
Inspirational Women 23 : Jessica Cox: became the first pilot with no arms, proving you don't need 'wings' to fly
Jessica Cox suffered a rare birth defect and was born without any arms. None of the prenatal tests her mother took showed there was anything wrong with her. And yet she was born with this rare congenital disease, but also with a great spirit. The psychology graduate can write, type, drive a car, brush her hair and talk on her phone simply using her feet. Ms Cox, from Tuscon, Arizona, USA, is also a former dancer and double black belt in Tai Kwon-Do. She has a no-restrictions driving license, she flies planes and she can type 25 words a minute.
The plane she is flying is called an Ercoupe and it is one of the few airplanes to be made and certified without pedals. Without rudder pedals Jessica is free to use her feet as hands. She took three years instead of the usual six months to complete her lightweight aircraft licence, had three flying instructors and practiced 89 hours of flying, becoming the first pilot with no arms.
Inspirational Man 24 : Sean Swarner: first cancer survivor to complete the 7-summits, the highest peaks of the 7 continents
The 29,035-foot giant known as Mount Everest tortures its challengers with life-threatening conditions such as 100 mph winds, the dramatic loss of oxygen, snowstorms, and deadly avalanches. Climbers of Everest are faced with incredible dangers, but for Sean Swarner the obstacles he overcame prior to his summiting make his story even more compelling.
Sean isn't just a cancer survivor; he is truly a medical marvel. He is the only person in the world ever to have been diagnosed with both Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. He was diagnosed in the fourth and final stage of Hodgkin's disease at the age of thirteen, when doctors expected him to live for no more than three months. He overcame his illness only to be stricken a second time when a deadly golf ball-sized tumor attacked his right lung. After removal of the Askin's tumor, Sean was expected to live for less than two weeks. A decade later and with only partial use of his lungs, Sean became famous for being the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest.
After the summit of Everest, Sean had the desire and dream to continue moving forward and reaching people around the world. Climbing the highest mountain on each continent became his next goal. Proving to others that anything is possible, Sean successfully summited Mt. McKinley, to be the first cancer survivor to complete the seven summits.
You can read more about Swarner's story on his 2007 book Keep Climbing: How I Beat Cancer and Reached the Top of the World
Inspirational Man 25 : Randy Pausch: inspired thousands of people with his dying speech
Randy Pausch, an American professor of computer science, learned that he had pancreatic cancer --a terminal illness-- in September of 2006. He was given 3 months of life, but he lived 3 more years and inspired millions of people from around the world to follow their dreams.
A year after being diagnosed, Paul gave an upbeat lecture entitled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" at Carnegie Mellon, which became a popular YouTube video and led to more media appearances.
In his famous speech, Pausch showed a list of his childhood dreams, and explained how he achieved each of them. His dreams were: being in zero gravity, playing in the National Football League, being the author of a World Book Encyclopedia article, meeting and being Captain Kirk, being "one of the guys who won the big stuffed animals in the amusement park", and becoming a Disney Imagineer.
He then co-authored a book called "The Last Lecture" on the same theme, which became a New York Times best-seller.
Sadly, Pausch died of complications from cancer on July 25, 2008, but his legacy continues to inspire people.
Inspirational Man 26 : Ben Underwood: the boy who could “see” with his ears
Ben Underwood was a remarkable teenager, who loved to skateboard, ride his bicycle and play football and basketball. For the most part, the Californian 14-year-old was just like other kids his age. What made Underwood remarkable was his ability to master these activities despite the fact that he was blind. Underwood had both eyes removed after being diagnosed with retinal cancer at age two. To most people's amazement upon meeting him, he seemed completely unfazed by his lack of sight, defying common stereotypes about blindness as a disability. So how did he do it? The answer is echolocation: the sonar navigation technique used by bats, dolphins, several other mammals and some birds. As Underwood moved about, he habitually made clicking noises with his tongue; these sounds bounced off surfaces and, with each return, added to Underwood's perception of his surroundings.
He was so good at it that he could tell the difference between a fire hydrant and a rubbish bin, distinguish between parked cars and trucks, and — if you took him to a house he had never been to before — he would tell you he could 'see' a staircase in that corner and a kitchen in the other. He could even distinguish between different materials.
An unflinching faith in God guided Ben and his mother during his last few months as cancer spread to Ben's brain and spine. He eventually died on January 2009 at the age of 16.
Inspirational Man 27 : Liz Murray: from Homeless To Harvard
New Yorker Liz Murray was born in 1980 to poor, drug-addicted, HIV-infected parents. She became homeless just after she turned 15, when her mother died of AIDS, and her father moved to a homeless shelter.
Murray's life turned around when she began attending the Humanities Preparatory Academy in Chelsea, Manhattan. Though she started high school later than most students, and remained without a stable home while supporting herself and her sister, Murray graduated in only two years. She was then awarded a New York Times scholarship for needy students and accepted into Harvard University, matriculating in the fall semester of 2000.
She left Harvard in 2003 to care for her sick father; she resumed her education at Columbia University to be closer to him until 2006 when he died of AIDS. As of May 2008, she was back at Harvard working towards her degree with plans to graduate with a degree in Psychology in June 2009.
Her life became a movie in 2003 and she now works as a professional speaker, representing the Washington Speakers Bureau. That same gutsy strength that pulled her from the streets now transforms the lives of others, from student groups to business audiences in need of inspiration to overcome their own obstacles.
In 2011, her autobiography Breaking Night: My Journey from Homeless to Harvard became a New York Times Bestseller
Inspirational Man 28 : Patrick Henry Hughes: born blind and crippled, now "marches" in the Louisville marching band
Patrick is a remarkable young man who was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. Additionally, two steel rods were surgically attached to Patrick's spine to correct scoliosis.
Despite circumstances, Patrick has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician and student. Patrick started playing the piano at the age of only nine months, and also plays the trumpet and sings. He even participates in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands with help from his father (Patrick John Hughes), who tirelessly maneuvers his wheel chair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the
Cardinal Marching Band.
A virtuoso pianist, vocalist and trumpet player, Patrick has won numerous competitions, as well as winning awards acknowledging the circumstances he has overcome to achieve these heights. He has been featured on ESPN, ABC-TV, Oprah, CBS-TV, The Ellen Show, Extreme Make Over Home Edition, FOX-TV, CSTV, NBC-TV, Million Dollar Round Table, The Grand Ole Opry, People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Star Magazine, and many other outlets.
"I'm happy; why aren't you?" asks Nick Vujicic, an Australian man born with the rare Tetra-amelia syndrome.
Despite being limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having only one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh, he is doing surf, he's swimming, playing golf and soccer. Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning and became a motivational speaker with a focus on life with a disability, hope and finding meaning in life.
Having addressed over 3 million people in over 44 countries on five continents, he also spreads his message of hope on his book Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, published in 2010.
Inspirational Man 22 : Nando Parrado: survived airplane crash and 72 days in the Andes
72 days of ordeal Nando Parrado and other survivors of a plane crash in the Andes had to endure before being rescued.
Flying over the mountains on a Friday the 13th, the young men and their families who boarded the charter plane joked about the unlucky day when the plane's wing hit the slope of the mountain and crashed. On impact, 13 passengers were instantly dead while 32 others were badly wounded. Hoping to be rescued, the survivors waited in the freezing -37C temperature, melting snow for drinks and sleeping side by side to keep themselves warm. Food was so scarce, everyone had to pool whatever food they can find for a rationed pool.
9 days after the crash, due to dire desperation and hunger, the survivors called for an important meeting. One member proposed that they eat the dead. The 2 hours meeting ended with a conclusion. If any of them died in the Andes, the rest had the permission to use the corpse as food. After 2 weeks, their hope of being found dashed when they found out via their radio transistor that the rescue effort was called off.
On the 60th day after the crash, Nando Parrado and 2 other friends decided to walk through the icy wilderness for help. By the time they left, Nando Parrado said, the crash site was “.. an awful place, soaked in urine, smelling of death, littered with ragged bits of human bone and gristle”. Wearing 3 pairs of jeans and 3 sweaters over a polo shirt, he and his friends trekked the mountains with human flesh as their ration.
Knowing that they must search for rescue, the team endured frozen snow, exhaustion and starvation, walking and climbing for 10 days before finding their way to the bottom of the mountain. The team was finally helped by a Chilean farmer who called the police for help. Parrado then guided the rescue team via a helicopter to the crash site.
On the 22nd December 1972, after enduring 72 brutal days, the world found out that there were 16 survivors who cheated death, in the mountain of Andes. 8 of the initial survivors died when an avalanche cascaded down on them as they slept in the fuselage.
During the ordeal, Nando Parrado lost 40 kg of his weight. He lost half his family in the crash. He is now a motivational speaker.
His book Miracle in the Andes was published in 2007.
Inspirational Women 23 : Jessica Cox: became the first pilot with no arms, proving you don't need 'wings' to fly
Jessica Cox suffered a rare birth defect and was born without any arms. None of the prenatal tests her mother took showed there was anything wrong with her. And yet she was born with this rare congenital disease, but also with a great spirit. The psychology graduate can write, type, drive a car, brush her hair and talk on her phone simply using her feet. Ms Cox, from Tuscon, Arizona, USA, is also a former dancer and double black belt in Tai Kwon-Do. She has a no-restrictions driving license, she flies planes and she can type 25 words a minute.
The plane she is flying is called an Ercoupe and it is one of the few airplanes to be made and certified without pedals. Without rudder pedals Jessica is free to use her feet as hands. She took three years instead of the usual six months to complete her lightweight aircraft licence, had three flying instructors and practiced 89 hours of flying, becoming the first pilot with no arms.
Inspirational Man 24 : Sean Swarner: first cancer survivor to complete the 7-summits, the highest peaks of the 7 continents
The 29,035-foot giant known as Mount Everest tortures its challengers with life-threatening conditions such as 100 mph winds, the dramatic loss of oxygen, snowstorms, and deadly avalanches. Climbers of Everest are faced with incredible dangers, but for Sean Swarner the obstacles he overcame prior to his summiting make his story even more compelling.
Sean isn't just a cancer survivor; he is truly a medical marvel. He is the only person in the world ever to have been diagnosed with both Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. He was diagnosed in the fourth and final stage of Hodgkin's disease at the age of thirteen, when doctors expected him to live for no more than three months. He overcame his illness only to be stricken a second time when a deadly golf ball-sized tumor attacked his right lung. After removal of the Askin's tumor, Sean was expected to live for less than two weeks. A decade later and with only partial use of his lungs, Sean became famous for being the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest.
After the summit of Everest, Sean had the desire and dream to continue moving forward and reaching people around the world. Climbing the highest mountain on each continent became his next goal. Proving to others that anything is possible, Sean successfully summited Mt. McKinley, to be the first cancer survivor to complete the seven summits.
You can read more about Swarner's story on his 2007 book Keep Climbing: How I Beat Cancer and Reached the Top of the World
Inspirational Man 25 : Randy Pausch: inspired thousands of people with his dying speech
Randy Pausch, an American professor of computer science, learned that he had pancreatic cancer --a terminal illness-- in September of 2006. He was given 3 months of life, but he lived 3 more years and inspired millions of people from around the world to follow their dreams.
A year after being diagnosed, Paul gave an upbeat lecture entitled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" at Carnegie Mellon, which became a popular YouTube video and led to more media appearances.
In his famous speech, Pausch showed a list of his childhood dreams, and explained how he achieved each of them. His dreams were: being in zero gravity, playing in the National Football League, being the author of a World Book Encyclopedia article, meeting and being Captain Kirk, being "one of the guys who won the big stuffed animals in the amusement park", and becoming a Disney Imagineer.
He then co-authored a book called "The Last Lecture" on the same theme, which became a New York Times best-seller.
Sadly, Pausch died of complications from cancer on July 25, 2008, but his legacy continues to inspire people.
Inspirational Man 26 : Ben Underwood: the boy who could “see” with his ears
Ben Underwood was a remarkable teenager, who loved to skateboard, ride his bicycle and play football and basketball. For the most part, the Californian 14-year-old was just like other kids his age. What made Underwood remarkable was his ability to master these activities despite the fact that he was blind. Underwood had both eyes removed after being diagnosed with retinal cancer at age two. To most people's amazement upon meeting him, he seemed completely unfazed by his lack of sight, defying common stereotypes about blindness as a disability. So how did he do it? The answer is echolocation: the sonar navigation technique used by bats, dolphins, several other mammals and some birds. As Underwood moved about, he habitually made clicking noises with his tongue; these sounds bounced off surfaces and, with each return, added to Underwood's perception of his surroundings.
He was so good at it that he could tell the difference between a fire hydrant and a rubbish bin, distinguish between parked cars and trucks, and — if you took him to a house he had never been to before — he would tell you he could 'see' a staircase in that corner and a kitchen in the other. He could even distinguish between different materials.
An unflinching faith in God guided Ben and his mother during his last few months as cancer spread to Ben's brain and spine. He eventually died on January 2009 at the age of 16.
Inspirational Man 27 : Liz Murray: from Homeless To Harvard
New Yorker Liz Murray was born in 1980 to poor, drug-addicted, HIV-infected parents. She became homeless just after she turned 15, when her mother died of AIDS, and her father moved to a homeless shelter.
Murray's life turned around when she began attending the Humanities Preparatory Academy in Chelsea, Manhattan. Though she started high school later than most students, and remained without a stable home while supporting herself and her sister, Murray graduated in only two years. She was then awarded a New York Times scholarship for needy students and accepted into Harvard University, matriculating in the fall semester of 2000.
She left Harvard in 2003 to care for her sick father; she resumed her education at Columbia University to be closer to him until 2006 when he died of AIDS. As of May 2008, she was back at Harvard working towards her degree with plans to graduate with a degree in Psychology in June 2009.
Her life became a movie in 2003 and she now works as a professional speaker, representing the Washington Speakers Bureau. That same gutsy strength that pulled her from the streets now transforms the lives of others, from student groups to business audiences in need of inspiration to overcome their own obstacles.
In 2011, her autobiography Breaking Night: My Journey from Homeless to Harvard became a New York Times Bestseller
Inspirational Man 28 : Patrick Henry Hughes: born blind and crippled, now "marches" in the Louisville marching band
Patrick is a remarkable young man who was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. Additionally, two steel rods were surgically attached to Patrick's spine to correct scoliosis.
Despite circumstances, Patrick has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician and student. Patrick started playing the piano at the age of only nine months, and also plays the trumpet and sings. He even participates in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands with help from his father (Patrick John Hughes), who tirelessly maneuvers his wheel chair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the
Cardinal Marching Band.
A virtuoso pianist, vocalist and trumpet player, Patrick has won numerous competitions, as well as winning awards acknowledging the circumstances he has overcome to achieve these heights. He has been featured on ESPN, ABC-TV, Oprah, CBS-TV, The Ellen Show, Extreme Make Over Home Edition, FOX-TV, CSTV, NBC-TV, Million Dollar Round Table, The Grand Ole Opry, People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Star Magazine, and many other outlets.
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