#phineas has never sounded like he was in his very early 20s more to me

[justalittlebluetiefling]

"Old you? From a week ago?"

"Yep! Well, gotta go."

[kittymaverick]

It’s that time again. MCF: Black Crown commentary

 I’m actually watching AdventureGameFan8 this time instead of Pazu first. (I intend to watch Pazu later for his commentary.) Anyhow, spoilers under the cut...

1. Skulls... skulls everywhere... HELP. Note: Kitty has a chronic fear of skulls since childhood. It’s bad enough that she still can’t finish 13th Skull even after all these years. 2. Her Majesty: You remember what happened last time... MD: ...A ghost drowned some people that were holding me hostage, and then I drowned that ghost again with the help of his crew? By the way, are you sending me on this case again just so I can come back with a good story? Her Majesty: Now why would I ever do that? *plays innocent*

3. Chapter 0. XD I like how it straight up acknowledges it’s a chapter 0. And we’re collecting... CRABS this time. (Better than skulls!)

4. Huh, interesting, for once this is a puzzle I would have needed to solve with a piece of paper nearby. I don’t think we’ve had that either forever, or for ages.

5. MD: Huh, so the asylum’s benefactor is Crown Estate Holdings... ...Is there such a thing as pissing off the descendants of a ghost you came across??? MD: I guess I’m about to find out...

6. I still don’t trust this Dr. Norton, and I SWEAR we’ve heard the name Nathaniel somewhere... MD: I should have kept a notebook of names just in case...

7. This patient file is giving me so many warning bells. MD: shiny round object-- MUST BE THE CRYSTAL BALL. *Paranoia max*

8. That’s a lot of lollipops you’re carrying doctor. I expect them to show up later. MD: Also, this pocket watch, if you so much as put them in yourself... Dr: ...I see you are still incredibly paranoid, much like you were on your last visit. MD: Can you honestly blame me given my line of work?

9. WAIT A MOMENT THE MD SIGNED THEIR NAME LEMME SEE IT I CAN READ CURSIVE-- MD: NEXT. If that actually says Phineas Crown I’m going to scream because WHERE IS THE REAL MD THEN.

10. Dr.: The last thing we need right now is the whole wing getting agitated. Me and MD: And then the whole wing got agitated... *sighs*

11. MD: Speaking of, I swear I did some property destruction while I was here last time. Has that been fixed? I’m starting to see why the Crown Estate might have a beef with you.

12. Dr.: I’ll be right back! MD: Really? You’re really going to just leave me here in the dark?... Good thing I swiped a torch from the table earlier. I was wondering why you just took that...

13. MD:...Okay seriously, if the WHOLE WING OF PATIENTS is in on the puzzle I seriously thing we’re doomed. You don’t know that. It might just be a game they like to play together. :P

14. MD: I just got chills. Something isn’t right, all of a sudden. Wow, understatement of the year. Glad to see that paranoia finally kicking in. MD: ...I did always have a late spider sense...

15. How convenient it is that there’s a museum to visit-- Um, MD?! MD: WHO TOUCHED MY BUGGY AND TAMPERED WITH THE BRAKES??? I TOLD YOU THE MUSEUM STAFF WERE BAD NEWS!!!! MD: And they even left a postcard telling me about it. Okay, they’re just taunting me now.

16. Um, MD, is your buggy technically the company’s? MD:................. They’re going to dock your pay for this, right? MD: That thought ALMOST made me just want to just stay in the car and go with it. 17. Ah, getting keys from other people’s incompetence. MD: If only all doors and puzzles were like that... To be fair, the last time the main antagonist was somewhat incompetent, we nearly broke space-time, and also almost got stuck in their hallucination. MD: ...Yeah, on second thought, never mind.

18. MD: Wow there, boy! Calm down. I’ve just notice that you’re not very good with animals. MD: You would think I would have learnt to keep a bag of treats handy by now, but alas. ...Wait, is this why you were never allowed a pet? MD: ...*changes subject* Hey look this map over here’s very interesting!

19. Another fact about the MD learned: They can rock-climbing. Somewhat. MD: I almost joined my car... People usually take their gloves OFF and put CHALK on  for a reason, you know. Like, the chalk you just used 5 seconds ago. MD: If I grounded up the whole thing, then it’ll be obvious someone has been here. No duh! As if the open lock and dog in cage didn’t clue them in! /8D

20. This whole “let’s follow the most-definitely not evil artifact” is REALLY doing wonders on your chance of survival. MD: ...Look, it’s an occupational hazard... Mh-hmm. MD: ...And okay I do get a bit too into the mystery. So more like an occupational addiction.

21. Oh no, a person! Gotta stay hidden! MD: Uh, I think I’ve failed that already, with the fountain now 2 stories high and what not.

22. OH NO THE DOCTOR AND NURSE ARE HERE. RED ALERT! RED ALERT! MD: I’m armed with my fists and a sharp badge, don’t come closer. Doctor: Actually, we’re here because the patients all broke out during the black out... Nurse: And they took the girl with them here, using a stolen ambulance. MD: ...As much as it was the reason I managed to get out myself, your asylum REALLY needs better security. Also, how did you get in with the front door locked? 23. Doctor: By the way, they were screaming about a crown. Can you keep an eye out? MD: And I just all of a sudden remember a story about some villains who tricked me into finding something for them while I was on a case. Would you like to know what happened to them in the end? 8D (Spoiler alert: they drowned.) Doctor: Anyway, let’s split up. MD: That sounds like a “Let’s get the MD to do a the work while we just sit back and relax”... but sure, I’m in. Also doc, can you just give us one of those lollipops already? Like, it’s so obvious we’re going to need it later...

23. MD: Man, this watch sure is handy-- Um, did you already forgot what all of your supernatural/mechanical fancy gizmos have done in the past few games??? MD: ...Look, we detectives need our companion cubes, okay, especially the ones who can’t handle animals. Who happen to also VANDALIZE historical paintings. My GODS. MD: There was a THING, okay?!

24. SHADOW FIGURE DETECTED. ALERT, STRANGE PRESENCE DETECTED. MD: Yeah, it’s probably the doctor. They all end up weird sooner or later. You are REALLY to calm about this.

25. MD: Haha, funny note. Curses aren’t real! ... MD: ...Okay that was out of character. Yeah... let’s open it anyway though. 8D

26. ???: The last time we met, you killed my parents! MD: ...Oh, it’s you. Should have guessed, though I thought you were dead too. Phineas Crown: WELCOME TO MY HOUSE. MD: And YOU, are most definitely dead. Seriously, didn’t you get dragged back under water?! You REALLY have a lot of crime families coming after you, don’t you? Also, CAN WE NOPE OUT OF HERE?! MD: Yeah, prime time to be stuck in a corridor right now. So, um, HELP? Dr.: I got this! This way! MD: Wait, YOU?! Nah, ah, I’m not falling for-- okay, fine, you better not get possessed later thought!

27. Doctor: We better find the nurse and get out of here, so... I’ll hold the door, and you... figure a way out for us. MD: It’s so strange having an ally so early in the game. I’m so suspicious... *Finds a way out* Doctor: Is that... you car in the distance? MD: *sob* yes... Doctor: I’m sorry, it was a nice car. Oh for once someone compliments the car! Doctor: At least you didn’t go over with it. ...MD, I think you have competition in the sarcasm department now.

28. Nurse: HELP! Dr. and MD: ...welp, better find her quick. *Dog shows up* MD: AAAAHHH! *Dog whines* MD: ...good doggy, nice doggy... please remember me giving you treats and not me locking you up... Hey, maybe you WILL get a pet after all!

29. So, we probably should avoid the patients and that women-- *MD walks right back into the building* REALLY?! Doctor: ...I do believe that our detective hasn’t been the most self-preserving after all those traumatic events in their life. MD: Look, if I don’t take some risks, I’m not going to earn enough money to eat, okay? Doctor: True enough, that said, let’s go into this maze and look for the nurse. MD: Now hold on, that’s way too dangerous! ...You two are perfect for each other, in the worst of ways. 30. MD: Well, thank god for that dog. Aaaand the Doctor’s lost. Bet you he’s the one going to be in distress next. MD: ...On account of him calling my car nice, I’ll highly consider rescuing him in a moment. 31. Skull patient: ... MD: ...Um, hi? *Skull patient attacks!* *MD uses block! It’s super effective* *MD uses punch! It’s also super effective!* MD: I personally prefer not to use violence, but oh well... ...Since WHEN have you been able to knock a guy out with one punch?! MD: Violence is a last resort, okay? Says the person who would have probably gotten out of MANY MANY situations if you’d had thrown more punches in the past! 32. Another unconscious patient?! MD: Not me! Nurse: ...That was me, sorry. Also, they said something about what was up here before you knocked them out. Might help before the police get here. MD: You guys keep on saying police like they will actually show up in time to be helpful, when usually, that’s not the case... 33. MD: Aaaand got the starchart-- WAH! Doctor: Hi, I’ve rescued myself from the maze! I also know the way back now though. MD: ...This is SO new to me. Tell me about it. People actually saving themselves now? What is this?! Nurse: Well, there’s still the girl, if you want to rescue someone. Doctor: Yes, I agree wholeheartedly with that. The two of us would only get in the way, but you should rescue the girl, detective. We’ll wait outside! Bye! ...Wait, so we’re rescuing the villain now??? MD: ...again, this is SO new to me. [Part 2 coming soon.]

[the-last-rat-standing]

“What have you, Jane?”

(Sorry. Little inside joke there.)

I’m about 20,000 words into a story I have no idea who will read. LOL! It’s my AU of Jane and Maura in the Old West, crossed over with William Murdoch and Julia Ogden of ‘Murdoch Mysteries’. I think this might appeal to an audience of 3 people, with my wife being one of the 3. It has no title yet (I generally don’t come up with one until I’m finished), but I thought I’d post the first chapter for fun.

The cabin was quiet as dawn inched its way through the window. By noon, the Wyoming sun would force hats to be pushed back and handkerchiefs to mop brows, but for now, the night chill tried in vain to hold off the heat. It was doing a good enough job that Jane burrowed deeper under the covers to shield against the breeze blowing against her-

She bolted upright, and her hair and countenance were rewarded by a laugh from across the room. Scowling at both the response and the source of her unwarranted alarm, she said, “Why is the door open? What time is it?”

“Patches wanted out,” Maura replied. “And it’s-”

“Doesn’t matter.” Jane flopped back into her pillow and pulled the blanket over her head. “Why are you up so early?” came the muffled question. “Come back to bed and warm me up.”

The combination of pitiful request and forceful demand drew out another laugh. “The Dromans are coming by this morning to get their teeth checked.” While her qualifications and her interests lay in medicine, as the town’s only doctor, the degree was often seen as a general knowledge in everything from dentistry to general health to autopsies. It had taken her some time to get used to the expectations, but after 6 years in Beybeck, it had become just another facet of the job. She dropped the egg in the pan and added, “And you told Barry you’d help him move his horses to Canyon Pass.”

Another groan from the bed. “I forgot.”

“Then, dinner with the Blacks.”

The groan slid into a whine. “How can I be so busy? The place has 1000 people.”

Maura laughed. “You have two things to do today. I think you’ll manage.”

Jane folded the edge of the blanket back so her eyes were showing. “I can think of one thing I’d like to do today.”

Tending to the egg, Maura didn’t notice the suggestive eyebrow. “Oh? What would that be?” When she received no response, she turned to the bed. “I see,” she said, her poorly veiled smirk undermining her stern tone. “You’re incorrigible. And your egg is ready.”

…..

They rode together until the fork in the road led Maura to go south towards Beybeck and Jane north to Barry Frost’s ranch. She enjoyed the ride in silence until the familiar house appeared in the distance. Her arrival caught the attention of a ranch hand who tipped his hat to her and shouted over his shoulder. Barry’s affable face appeared from behind him.

“Jane,” he said with a grin. “Only 20 minutes late. Everything okay between you and Dr. Isles?”

The ranch hand snickered and Jane glowered under the red blush that rose to her cheeks. “Frost, it’s been five years. You’re never not going to poke me about her, are you?”

He beamed. “Nope. She’s the only thing that makes your face turn that colour. I gotta play that card every chance I get.”

“Whatever,” she replied, though secretly, she was always grateful for his acceptance. Not all the townsfolk embraced her relationship with Maura as willingly, though most seemed to find a tolerable middle ground. Jane knew she’d never win over everyone, so she only focused on those who mattered most. Barry Frost was one of them. “We’re 20 minutes behind. Let’s go.”

…..

She had been sheriff for over 15 years, but sometimes. she wondered how things would be if she had gone a different route. Out in the open air, the sounds of animals and riders working in tandem, the gentle sway of the horse under her, broken every so often by a trot or short gallop. The trip had only taken a few hours there and back, and now she rested with her foot on the fence and her arms hanging over the top beam.

“You’d hate it.”

Jane spun at the voice. Frost sauntered up to the rail and mirrored her pose.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “The great outdoors, wind through your hair.” They both laughed, knowing his short cropped cut enjoyed none of that wind. “It’s not you, Jane. You were always cut out for something more than just this.” Seeing her frown, he quickly said, “I don’t mean there’s anything wrong with this; it’s an honest living and I love it. But you’ve got the law in your blood. You wouldn’t be you.”

They were silent for a brief moment before Jane blew out a snort. “Sakes alive, Frost, did Maura give you one of her philosophy books?”

“I’m just sayin’. Besides, you think it’s tough being a woman sheriff? Woman ranch owner is 10 times tougher.”

“Tougher than a black man being a ranch owner?”

A short laugh conceded her point. “I pay them well.”

“Speaking of payment,” she said, “I believe you told me you’d give me some of that whiskey you got sent in from Tennessee.”

He grinned. “That I did. Not too early?”

She tipped her hat back and looked into the sky. “It’s past noon. Just don’t tell Maura.”

…..

Her first stop back into Beybeck was the doctor’s small building that was nestled just off main street. After a stern word to her horse, Jane swung to the ground and gave a short rap on the door before walking in. The place hadn’t changed much since Maura had become the town doctor, though she had finally moved Phineas’ old desk, a year after he passed. She’d kept his chair though; she seemed to take comfort in having it close, as if he was still watching over her. As she always did, Jane touched her hat in the chair’s direction before turning to Maura. The doctor was holding up a glass tube.

“Is that… a tooth?” Jane grimaced.

“Yes,” Maura smiled. “The Dromans’ dog had a toothache. Fortunately, the rest of the family was fine.”

“That’s the dog’s tooth?”

“Yes. You never know when I might need to reference one.”

“I guess.” Jane stepped around the desk and lightly kissed Maura on the lips. “How was your morning? I mean, besides pulling a dog’s tooth?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Maura replied. “How was your whiskey?” She laughed at Jane’s expression at being caught out. “I might have to order some in. It’s sweeter than I thought.” She swayed and wiped her lips with her index finger.

“You’re a tease, Dr. Isles.” She kissed her again. “I’m on my way to the saloon to catch up on the gossip. Would you like to come with me?”

Maura shook her head. “Unfortunately, I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on. Besides, everyone knows the best gossip is found at the general store.”

Jane bobbed her head in agreement. “That’s true. But all the new faces are at the saloon.” With faster migration to the west coast, trains came through Beybeck twice as often as they did 10 years ago. Some were just visiting, but many added to the town’s population over the years.

“You just want to assert your authority,” Maura teased.

Jane’s fingers found their way to Maura’s hips. “Work seems to be the only place I have authority these days.”

Outlining the silver star on Jane’s vest, Maura replied innocently, “I didn’t realize that was a problem… elsewhere.”

Jane’s cheeks burned and she looked away first, like she always did. “Not fair.”

Maura’s chuckle was seductive and free. “Go on,” she said with a kiss. “But no more whiskey.”

…..

Despite the swinging door, the saloon was cool, and Jane welcomed the change in temperature. She pulled the fabric away from her body as her eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings. As she expected, there were a few unfamiliar faces at the bar, but for the most part, everything seemed in its right place, including the three at the corner table.  

“Zeke, why do I always find you here?”

Ezekiel Black’s transition from a boy to a teen to a young man seemed to happen much quicker than the 22 years Jane had known him. She took some measure of pride in that development as well as his growth as a law man.

“This is where you find the best gossip, Sheriff,” he replied, much to the chagrin of the two men sitting with him.

Stubby Thompson grunted. “I take offense to that.”

An elegantly dressed man across the table said, “I believe the best gossip is at Matt Cooper’s.”

Jane grinned. “You’ll be happy to know Dr. Isles feels the same, Edward.”

The tailor bowed his head at winning the point.

“Sit for a few hands, Sheriff?” Stubby asked. “3-hand poker ain’t much of a game.”

Pulling up a chair, she said, “I think I can spare a few, at least until Frost shows up.”

Ten hands and a dollar down later, Jane flicked her eyes towards the door. “Zeke. Is that Mrs. Murphy?”

The entire table turned to look. The very idea of Ruth Murphy, Beybeck’s moral arbitrator, lurking near the saloon was enough to stop the game in mid-deal.

“That’s her hat,” Edward noted. “I made a dress to match.”

“She’s gone by three times,” Jane said.

“What the devil for?” Zeke asked.

Stubby opened his mouth to throw in a retort, but the sound of the swinging doors snapped his jaw shut. Every local in the room quickly turned and pulled their hats down. If she’d had any hesitation about coming into the saloon, the 50 year old didn’t show it once she stepped in. Her march was assured and her path was direct. In five short strides, she stood in front of Jane’s table.

“Sheriff.” It was a greeting, a statement and an admonishment all rolled into one.

Jane’s attempt to cover the cards and the whiskey was for naught. “Mrs. Murphy. What are you doing here?”

“I would ask the same, but that’s fairly obvious. Mr. Harrington,” she admonished.

The tailor had the good grace to look embarrassed.

“Your visit, Mrs. Murphy?” Jane prompted.

“Yes, well, it’s something of a personal nature.”

A thought suddenly came to her. “Is Mr. Murphy okay?”

The older woman blinked. “What? Oh, yes. I realize my appearance here might evoke that kind of alarm, but he’s well.”

Jane blew out a sigh of relief. “Good. Would you like to go somewhere private?”

She looked around the room with a wrinkled nose. “As much as I object to this establishment, I suppose there’s no sense pretending news wouldn’t get out by morning regardless of where I share it.”

“End of day if you go to Cooper’s,” Stubby muttered, but was quickly stifled by Mrs. Murphy’s glare and a kick under the table from Jane.

“Mrs. Murphy,” Jane encouraged.

She took a deep breath. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a telegram and handed it to Jane. “My niece has gone missing. We’ve contacted the local authorities, but they’ve chosen to ignore our pleas.”

“Niece?” Zeke repeated. “We haven’t been told of any missing person, Mrs. Murphy.”

“Not in Beybeck, Zeke,” Jane said, scanning the telegram. “Toronto.”

Stubby frowned. “Toronto? Where’s that?”

“I think it’s that new settlement in Utah,” Zeke said.

Edward shook his head. “No. It’s a city in Canada.” All eyes turned to him. “I often get fabric sent from Chicago. News is, some of the best designs are coming from Toronto.”

“The secret lives of tailors,” Jane mused.

Zeke’s eyes grew wide. “Canada,” he whispered.

“Based on this, she hasn’t been heard from in over a week,” Jane said. “How do you know she’s missing?”

Mrs. Murphy scoffed. “She’s a devout young woman who is very dedicated to her studies. She would never just up and leave. She’s never once been in any sort of trouble.”

Not wanting to remind the woman that image didn’t always reflect in action, particularly with young people, Jane tried a different tact. “No boyfriends?”

“No.” She firmly shook her head. “I told you, she’s not that type of girl.”

“Is your sister in Toronto?” Zeke asked.

“Etobicoke.” Before anyone could ask, she said, “A short train from Toronto.”

Jane took in the information. “So what was-” she glanced at the paper, “Virginia doing there?”

Ruth sighed. “My sister allowed her to accept a placement in one of the Toronto hospitals. Against my better judgement, I might add.”

“Of course,” Jane replied. “So she wanted to be a nurse.”

“Yes.”

Jane was silent for a moment. “I don’t know how I can help you, Mrs. Murphy. I mean, I can contact the Toronto police, but I don’t know if they’ll listen to me any more than they did you.”

“I don’t want you to contact them.”

Jane’s eyes went from Zeke to Stubby to Edward then to Ruth. “I’m not sure what-”

“I want you to go to Toronto,” she said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Pardon?”

“It’s apparent they’ve simply ignored my telegrams, assuming I would just leave them alone, no doubt. You can force them to do something.”

“I can’t just-”

“I will pay all expenses, of course.” She clutched her purse. “I don’t have much, but I do have savings. Joseph has agreed.”

Jane waved her hands. “I’m not taking your money, Mrs. Murphy.”

“But you will take the case. Thank you, Sheriff.” She moved forward and lightly touched Jane’s shoulder, a rare display of affection. “Thank you, Jane.”

Jane’s mouth dropped open to object, but by the time the words came to her, Mrs. Murphy was gone, leaving a handful of admonishments and embarrassed men in her wake.

……

“Toronto!” Zeke said in amazement. “It’ll be like when you went to Paris! Maybe even better! Do you think it’s like Paris, Mr. Harrington?”

“I don’t know, Ezekiel,” Edward said. “I’ve never been to either.”

“Don’t know why anyone would want to leave Beybeck,” Stubby groused.

“Listen,” Jane said, finding her voice at last, “I’m not going to Toronto. I don’t even know where that is.”

“Canada,” Zeke supplied with youthful innocence.

She clenched her jaw and glowered. “I got that part, Zeke.” Deflated, she sat back in her seat. “How did this happen? I didn’t even agree to go, and now she thinks I’m going.”

Stubby barked out a laugh. “She doesn’t think you’re going, Sheriff. She’s making you go.”

“You’ll have to take the train to Chicago and switch from there,” Edward said. “Do you think you could pick up some fabric on the way back?”

Seeing his poorly concealed smirk, she humourlessly replied, “Ha ha. I’m not going.”

“I’ll bet today’s winnings that you are, Sheriff,” Stubby wagered.

She stood and adjusted her hat. “The only place I’m going is to your house,” she said, directing her comment at Zeke. “Your mother invited me and Maura. Don’t you say a word about this. To either of them. Though knowing these two,” she wagged her finger at Stubby and Edward, “you won’t have to.”

The two men claimed their innocence, but neither could disguise their laughter as Jane stomped out of the saloon.

.....

[davidcdelreal]

A Surprising List of Successful People Who Filed for Bankruptcy – And Made It Back

A good friend once told me sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward.

That’s exactly what some famous, successful people did when they filed for bankruptcy. And most made it back to solvency.

Some even went well beyond their previous levels of wealth and fame after filing for bankruptcy.

In fact, for most it ended up being little more than a bump in the road of an otherwise successful life.

The point of this post isn’t to recommend bankruptcy. But it is to show experiencing financial disaster isn’t terminal! We all need to know this.

Rags-to-Riches-Back-to-Rags-Then-Back-to-Riches (Say That 10x Fast)

That’s the theme I found in researching these nine successful people who surprisingly filed for bankruptcy. Each came from humble beginnings. In fact, most grew up dirt poor and often in dysfunctional family backgrounds.

Three – Walt Disney, Cyndi Lauper and maybe Willie Nelson – marginally qualified as coming from middle-class backgrounds. Or maybe working poor was closer to the truth.

I think there’s a message in that. Coming from nothing may have been the “secret quality” that enabled each to bounce back from crushing financial troubles, and rise up like a phoenix.

Each came from nothing, or something close to it, took a chance – and failed – but got back up and tried again.

That’s the lesson in the lives of these successful people. It may not even be an exaggeration to say their recovery from bankruptcy was found in the poverty of their youth.

See if you can find any other encouraging patterns in the lives of the people on this list. We’ll discuss a few at the very end of this post.

Abraham Lincoln

Surprised? I was. Abraham Lincoln is widely considered to be the greatest of American presidents – right up there with George Washington.

He managed to hold the country together during the Civil War, which was the single greatest challenge to the nation’s unity in its history. Uniting the country against foreign enemies can be a tall order. Overseeing a conflict of American-versus-American is a crisis with a dimension all its own. Lincoln succeeded.

But Abraham Lincoln wasn’t always president or even a politician.

Early in his life, he was a storekeeper. It was 1833, Lincoln was in his 20s, and he and a partner opened a general store in new Salem, Illinois. It didn’t go well for the man who wrote and delivered the Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln and his partner purchased inventory from other stores on credit. But the business didn’t do well, and debts mounted. Lincoln sold his stake in the store, but his business partner later died. Lincoln then became liable for $1,000 in obligations, worth about $28,000 today.

There’s a little bit of a glitch in this story. Modern bankruptcy didn’t exist in the 1830s, not the way it does today. Instead of filing for bankruptcy, then moving on with his life, Lincoln was required to repay his creditors over 17 years.

It was actually from the ashes of that business failure that Lincoln began his political career, launching his campaign for the Illinois General Assembly. His bid failed, but he became a lawyer shortly after. And on his second run for office, he then served for successive terms in the Illinois House of Representatives. In 1846 he was elected to the US House of Representatives.

In 1860, he was elected the 16th president of the US – one of the most beloved in history.

Dave Ramsey

Let’s fast-forward, oh – about 150 years – right up to our own time.

If you spend much time on financial blogs, including Good Financial Cents, you’ve probably heard of Dave Ramsey. He’s one of the most famous and widely read personal financial advisors of all time.

But his rise to that level was hardly a straight line to pay dirt.

Dave came out of the starting gate like a championship horse. By the age of 26, he built a portfolio of rental real estate worth over $4 million through his brokerage firm, Ramsey Investments, Inc. He had become a superstar in the real estate market of his home state of Tennessee at a very tender age.

But success didn’t last. His real estate holdings were heavily leveraged, and creditors began calling in his debts. This forced him to file for bankruptcy.

Much like Abraham Lincoln, as Ramsey emerged from bankruptcy, he began to move in a different direction. Rather than trying to resurrect his real estate empire, he instead began providing financial counseling for couples at his local church.

At the same time, he began attending workshops and seminars on consumer financial problems. From those seminars and from the teachings of other personal finance counselors – as well as from his own experience – he put together a set of lessons and materials.

On request from many of his clients, he wrote his first book, Financial Peace, in 1992.

That was just the beginning of Dave Ramsey’s post-bankruptcy life. Shortly after, he co-hosted a local financial radio program that eventually grew into The Dave Ramsey Show.

That radio program airs on 550 stations and reaches an estimated 8.5 million listeners.

And Dave Ramsey’s current net worth? How about $55 million!

MC Hammer

MC Hammer rose to fame on the song U Can’t Touch This, in 1990. The song wasn’t even fully original. It was largely a remake of Super Freak, released by Rick James in 1981. (For the record, Rick James also participated in the creation of U Can’t Touch This.)

The song wasn’t just popular from an entertainment standpoint alone. It’s been an ongoing commercial success, playing in movies, TV shows, commercials and elsewhere as background music. 27 years after its release, it’s one of the most recognizable songs ever.

Like so many successful celebrities, MC Hammer grew up poor.

But he developed an entrepreneurial streak in childhood. Living near the Oakland Coliseum, home to the Oakland A’s, he made money selling stray baseballs and dancing to a beatboxer. As a teenager, he worked as a bat boy for the A’s. It was there Reggie Jackson gave him the name “Hammer”, because of his resemblance to Hank Aaron.

His baseball experience set the stage for his entertainment career. At the peak of that career, he had an estimated net worth of over $33 million.

But as is often the case with celebrities, money management wasn’t his strong suit. He spent too much on luxuries and on supporting family and friends. By 1996, and $13 million in debt, he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

But MC Hammer’s money troubles continued to follow him even after bankruptcy. In 2011, the IRS filed a lawsuit for nearly $800,000 in back taxes.

But Hammer handled it all, and has recently been reported to be worth $1.5 million. That’s not close to what he had at his financial peak. But this is the guy who’s shown the ability (and talent) to roll with the punches, and rise to new heights.

Walt Disney

Another famous person from humble beginnings, Walt Disney showed entrepreneurial drive at an early age. But he also filed for bankruptcy, while still barely more than a teenager. And it almost happened a few years later, just before one of his greatest successes.

Born in 1901, Disney formed Laugh-O-Gram Studio in 1920, making animated fairytales. He got a financial backer, and began building a staff of animators. But the financial backer went broke, leaving Disney unable to pay his animators or his debts. The company filed bankruptcy in 1921.

Using a loan from family, he started a new company in 1923.

It was in 1928 that he created Mickey Mouse, causing his career to take off. But when he began to make his first full-length animated movie – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) – costs outstripped available financial resources. Production costs reached $1.5 million, three times more than the original budget. The movie almost wasn’t released.

Close to bankruptcy once again, Disney was able to get a bank loan to complete the film and release the movie.

That was the event that set Disney on a roll that would last the rest of his life. The film grossed $6.5 million – more than four times the production budget.

It became the most successful motion picture of 1938, and the most successful sound film made up to that point. It was followed by other Disney classics, including Pinocchio and Fantasia.

When he died in 1966, Walt Disney was estimated to be worth an incredible $5 billion.

How much would that be in today’s dollars? Wow!

Imagine what we wouldn’t have today if Walt Disney gave up and quit after he filed bankruptcy back in the 1920s?

P.T. Barnum

This one is a trip back to the days of Abraham Lincoln, but it has a contemporary link through the movie, The Greatest Showman. The movie is well worth seeing. Phineas Taylor Barnum literally rose up from street poverty (and an orphan to boot), to become quite possibly – as the movie title suggests – the greatest showman ever.

He was the founder of Barnum & Bailey Circus (more recently known as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus), which lasted from 1871 to 2017.

But like other entrepreneurs and self-made millionaires on the celebrity bankruptcy list, P.T. Barnum’s rise to the top was hardly a straight line.

Born in 1810 (one year after Abraham Lincoln), he started his career as a showman at the age of 25. By 1841 he purchased Scudder’s American Museum in New York City, upgrading the building and adding exhibits. He turned it into one of the most popular show places in the city.

But the building burned down five times, after which Barnum built it into a city of its own. The cost was enormous, and not supported by the revenue it generated. Barnum was forced into bankruptcy.

His recovery came when he began lecturing on “The Art of Money Getting”, which might’ve been his greatest talent. The income he earned on those lectures enabled him to repay his debts.

That set the stage for the venture P.T. Barnum became best known for – the three-ring circus. That came about when he was 64 years old (proof age was never a barrier to success – even way back in 1873!).

Barnum was one of the first circus owners to create a moving circus and believed to be THE first to buy his own train to make it happen.

George Foreman

George Foreman is a former boxer and current entrepreneur. He won the gold medal in the heavyweight division of the 1968 Olympics. Shortly after, he turned professional and won the world heavyweight title in 1973.

He retired from boxing, moved back to his hometown, and became an ordained Christian minister. He started a youth center for troubled children, where they could participate in sports. But the declining income led him to file for bankruptcy in 1983.

The bankruptcy aside, Foreman continued his ministry, as well as the operation of the youth center. He also launched a boxing comeback. In 1994 – at the age of 45 – he regained a portion of the heavyweight championship. To date, he’s the oldest world heavyweight champion in history.

Foreman finally retired from boxing in 1997, at the age of 48. But by the time he did, he had a record 76 wins – including 68 knockouts – against just five losses.

During his second boxing career, he began lending his name to advertise various products on TV. He also reinvented his public personality. Once a menacing boxer, he adopted a friendly personality that was warmly received by the public – and a critical component of his success as an entrepreneur.

Following his active boxing career, he spent 12 years as a ringside analyst for HBO. Along the way, he launched the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units worldwide. He sold the naming rights to the grill in 1999 for a whopping $138 million.

Incredibly, George Foreman’s current net worth has been estimated at $300 million.

Cyndi Lauper

Much like Walt Disney, Lauper’s bankruptcy came before she had success. She spent several years singing and writing songs for a group called Blue Angel. The group’s first album was launched in 1980, but never caught on with the public. This forced Lauper to file for bankruptcy in 1981.

From there, she worked in restaurants and retail to keep herself afloat. Success came with the 1983 release of her She’s So Unusual album, that included Cyndi Lauper classics, like Money Changes Everything, Time After Time, She Bop, All Through the Night and Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

That’s a virtual career’s worth of big hits!

But that was just the beginning of her run of superstardom. Other albums followed, including True Colors, as well as several industry awards. In 1985, she released The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough, as part of the soundtrack to the movie The Goonies.

Lauper’s dramatic recovery from bankruptcy wasn’t her first “rebirth”. In 1977, she damaged her vocal chords and was told by doctors she would never sing again. Six years later, she released She’s So Unusual, and became a modern music legend.

As the saying goes, it’s hard to hold a good man down. Or in this case, a good woman.

Today, Cyndi Lauper has an estimated net worth of $30 million.

Willie Nelson

One of the most prolific country singers ever, Willie Nelson was born to a struggling family at the height of the Great Depression. His music career was motivated by – if you can believe it – his hatred of picking cotton.

It was a common local occupation in his Arkansas hometown, and one his family participated in. He chose instead to earn money by singing in local dance halls and taverns, beginning at age 13.

After high school, he held a variety of odd jobs, one of which was a disc jockey at a radio station in Texas. It was a major break. He was able to use the equipment at the radio station to launch his first recordings, and begin his professional music career.

It was the beginning of a career that would last decades, enabling him to reach legend status.

Nelson didn’t file for bankruptcy but faced something perhaps much worse. In 1990, the IRS claimed he owed $32 million, and seized his assets. The debt had largely been created by his former manager, who failed to pay taxes for a number of years.

Nelson turned to his music and fame to ultimately settle the debt, which was subsequently reduced to $16 million. He released an album called The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories? All profits went to the IRS. As well, many of his assets were auctioned off.

Ultimately his tax debt was paid by a settlement from his previous accounting firm, whom he claimed had put his money into illegal tax shelters. Nelson was financially in the clear by 1993.

After that, he released several albums and continued to tour.

Today he has an estimated net worth of $15 million.

Elton John

One of the most successful artists of all time, Elton John sold more than 300 million records. He produced more than 50 Top 40 hits, and seven consecutive number one albums in the US.

His tribute to Princess Diana Candle in the Wind 1997 – originally written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe – sold over 33 million copies. It was the biggest selling song in history in both the US and Britain. He was even knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Elton John is also one of the longest lasting musical talents in history. He first achieved fame in 1970 with the release of the single Your Song, which reach number seven in the UK, and number eight in the US.

It was an elevator ride up from there. Hit albums were being churned out almost annually, and he reached superstar status with the release of the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973, and Caribou in 1974.

But like so many celebrities, Elton John enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. In 2002, he declared bankruptcy after incurring huge debts on properties he owned all over the world. Wikipedia also confirms he went on a two-year spending spree – around 2000 – in which he spent about 1.5 million British pounds per month (well over $2 million per month).

The episode proved to be only a temporary setback for the music icon. Beginning in 2003, he entered an agreement to perform 75 shows over three years at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

He contributed productions for Walt Disney movies and did concert tours on a regular basis. No doubt royalties from previous songs and performances also provided a steady cash flow.

As of 2018, Elton John’s wealth has been estimated at $450 million.

The Take-aways From Successful People Who Filed for Bankruptcy and Made it Back

What can we learn from the lives of these nine people? Here’s what I came up with:

Poverty early in life wasn’t an obstacle. As I wrote at the very beginning, it may have been poverty early in life that enabled them to survive a financial disaster, then rebuild.

Bankruptcy didn’t stop them. Each not only rebuilt their lives but most went on to greater heights after bankruptcy.

Financial troubles were often caused by mismanagement. What we see in these nine is a pattern of:

Going deep into debt to launch a business venture

Financial mismanagement, including nonpayment of income tax

Trusting in, or providing for, people close in their lives (managers, friends, family, etc.)

Excessive spending

The last three are common causes of bankruptcy. The first happens when you start a business venture. That has to be considered as a possibility for anyone who does – think of it as an occupational hazard.

Most have a strong entrepreneurial drive. They fail at one business venture, but get back up and try another. With the exception of Abraham Lincoln, each was or is an entrepreneur at heart. Business failure comes with the territory. It didn’t scare them away, and it shouldn’t scare us either.

They’re all risktakers. I think it’s safe to say each of these individuals ended up in bankruptcy because they were taking chances. Failure is always a possibility when you do.

Bankruptcy isn’t life ending. In each of the nine cases, financial failure wasn’t the end of the road. Each got back up, made another charge, and hit pay dirt. Most of them even had their best days after filing for bankruptcy.

I think that’s the biggest lesson of all – failure is only the end if we let it be.

And we don’t have to.

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