Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Count It: How Many Times These Business Leaders Tried Before They Succeeded (Infographic) The founder of Pandora reached out to investors 300 times before getting funding. And James Dyson invented 5,126 failed vacuum cleaner prototypes before getting one right.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The only way to be sure you never fail is to never try. So, if you want to be an entrepreneur, buckle your seatbelt for a bumpy ride.

Epic inventor Thomas Edison generated 10,000 prototypes for electric light bulbs before getting it right, according to the infographic below, created by San Francisco-based startup organization Funders and Founders. And Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, was rejected 1,009 times when he tried to sell his fried chicken recipe.

How many times have you tried and failed so far? What's your secret to keep trying again? Leave us a note below and let us know.

Click to Enlarge+

Count It: How Many Times These Business Leaders Tried Before They Succeeded (Infographic)

Related: Life Advice From 18 of the Wealthiest People in History (Interactive Graphic)

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Models

How to Become an AI-Centric Business (and Why It's Crucial for Long-Term Success)

Learn the essential steps to integrate AI at the core of your operations and stay competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Business News

Kickstarter's CEO Explains Why the Platform Is Changing After 15 Years

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor explains the decision-making behind the changes, how he approaches leading Kickstarter, and his advice for future CEOs.

Marketing

5 Steps to Preparing an Engaging Industry Presentation

You can make a great impression and generate interest with an exciting, informative presentation. Find out my five secrets to creating an industry presentation guaranteed to wow.

Business Solutions

Save on a Lifetime of PDF Management for Memorial Day

Easily convert, edit, and annotate PDFs for work and business with this deal.