Having read the memoir thrice, I've noted he indeed had a never-give-up attitude. When he first ran for a political seat in 1974, he not only lost but also ran up debt. He bounced back five years later, and was elected governor.
As a first-term governor, he did some things that led to his defeat in the next gubernatorial race, a loss he described as a near-death experience, but one that taught him valuable lessons.
Even though he was elected governor again and again, he faced other challenges before becoming president. In 1988, for instance, critics roasted him for bombing his DNC speech.
These were the kind of setbacks he faced before he became president. And he became a great president given the way America prospered under his leadership. He advised:
If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.***********************
Also check out "Goal Setting à la Clinton".
