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 News

'We're Not Allowed to Own Bitcoin': Crypto Price Drops After U.S. Federal Reserve Head Makes Surprising Statement

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Bitcoin and rate cuts have rattled cryptocurrency investors.

Business Ideas

Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year

You can't plan for the new year until you complete these checkups.

Science & Technology

This AI is the Key to Unlocking Explosive Sales Growth in 2025

Tired of the hustle? Discover a free, hidden AI from Google that helped me double sales and triple leads in a month. Learn how this tool can analyze campaigns and uncover insights most marketers miss.

Business News

A New Hampshire City Was Named the Hottest Housing Market in the U.S. This Year. Here's the Top 10 for 2024.

Zillow released its annual lists featuring the top housing markets, small towns, coastal cities, and geographic regions. Here's a look at the top real estate markets and towns in 2024.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

KFC Is Launching a Chicken Tenders-Focused Concept Called Saucy — Here's When and Where It Opens

The chicken chain is making a strategic pivot towards the growing demand for customizable, sauce-heavy meals.