I just read the story of Harland Sanders, and honestly, it made me think. This guy is the perfect example of what it means never to give up.

Look, Harland Sanders was born in 1890 in Indiana with almost nothing. His father died when he was 6 years old, so as a child, he was already cooking and taking care of his siblings while his mother worked. His childhood flew by, replaced directly by responsibilities. He dropped out of school in seventh grade and then wandered around trying his luck at any job he could find — farmhand, streetcar conductor, fireman, soldier, insurance salesman. But in almost every thing he tried, he was shut out. Fired again and again.

Until he was 40, he didn’t find something that worked for him. He was running a gas station and started cooking for travelers. His special fried chicken became famous among the customers. For the first time in his life, Harland Sanders felt he had something valuable to offer. Finally, after so much struggle.

But of course, life hit him again. At 65, the government built a new highway that diverted all the traffic from his restaurant. His business collapsed. He was left with a Social Security check of $105. Most people at that age simply retire and disappear. But Harland Sanders was different.

He made a crazy-sounding decision: he packed his car and started traveling from restaurant to restaurant offering his fried chicken recipe for free in exchange for a small commission. He slept in his car, knocked on doors, pitched his idea. And he was rejected. Once. Ten times. A hundred times. A thousand times. More than 1,009 rejections. Think about it — more than a thousand people told him no.

But on attempt number 1,010, someone finally said yes. That small "yes" was all he needed. That’s how Kentucky Fried Chicken was born. At 70 years old, Sanders had already expanded KFC across America. In 1964, he sold the company for $2 million, but his face and name became the identity of the brand. Today, KFC has over 25,000 locations in 145 countries.

What fascinates me about Harland Sanders’ story is the lesson it leaves. It’s not just about perseverance. It’s about the fact that it’s never too late. This man started his real business at 65 years old. With $105. After a lifetime of failures. And yet, he built a global empire.

Every time I feel like giving up on something, I think of Sanders. If a guy who was rejected more than a thousand times could do it, then there really are no excuses.