Fail Up (27 page)

And that's why the words of Samuel Beckett resonate so with me: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

GRATITUDE

W
ith deep gratitude, I first thank Denise Pines for encouraging me to share the stories in this book.

A very special thanks to Sylvester Brown, Jr. for his insights and hard work in the completion of this project.

Much appreciation to Cheryl Woodruff and the team at SmileyBooks for shepherding this project through to completion on time.

To Louise Hay, Reid Tracy, and all the good people at Hay House, thank you for being such a great partner.

Finally, to my staff at The Smiley Group, Inc., thanks for everything each of you did to help me deliver a book of which we can all be proud—most especially, Danny Miles Davis, Dawn Fong, Kimberly Logan, Kimberly McFarland, Rhonda Nelson, Patrick Thomas, and Darryl Wesson.

ABOUT THE
AUTHOR

F
rom his celebrated conversations with world figures, to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, as a broadcaster, author, advocate, and philanthropist,
Tavis Smiley
continues to be an outstanding voice for change. Currently, Smiley hosts the late night television talk show,
Tavis Smiley
on PBS,
The Tavis Smiley Show
distributed by Public Radio International (PRI), and is the co-host of
Smiley & West
(PRI). He is the first American to simultaneously host signature talk shows on both public television and public radio. In addition to his radio and television work, Smiley has authored fourteen books, including the book he edited,
Covenant with Black America
, which became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on
The New York Times
bestseller list. He is also the presenter and creative force behind America I AM:
The African American Imprint
—an unprecedented traveling museum exhibition celebrating the extraordinary impact of African American contributions to our nation and to the world. In 2009,
TIME
magazine named him to their list of “The World's 100 Most Influential People.” This year, 2011, marks his 20th year in broadcasting.

NOTES

NOTES

SMILEYBOOKS TITLES OF RELATED INTEREST

BOOKS

THE COVENANT In Action
Compiled by Tavis Smiley

AMERICA IAM LEGENDS:
Rare Moments and Inspiring Words
Edited by SmileyBooks • Introduction by Tavis Smiley

NEVER MIND SUCCESS … GO FOR GREATNESS!
The Best Advice I've Ever Received
by Tavis Smiley

HOPE ON A TIGHTROPE
Words &Wisdom
by Cornel West

PEACE FROM BROKEN PIECES:
How to Get Through What You're Going Through
by Iyanla Vanzant

BLACK BUSINESS SECRETS:
500 Tips, Strategies and Resources for African American Entrepreneurs
by Dante Lee

BRAINWASHED:
Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority
by Tom Burrell

DVDs/CDs

STAND:
a film by Tavis Smiley

ON AIR
The Best of Tavis Smiley on the Tom Joyner Morning Show 2004–2008
4-CD commemorative set with booklet

All of the above are available at your local bookstore,
or may be ordered online through Hay House
(see contact information on next page)

We hoped you enjoyed this S
MILEY
B
OOKS
publication.
If you would like to receive additional information, please contact:

S
MILEY
B
OOKS
Distributed by:
Hay House, Inc.
P.O. Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
(760) 431-7695
or
(800) 654-5126
(760) 431-6948 (fax)
or
(800) 650-5115 (fax)
www.hayhouse.com
® •
www.hayfoundation.org

Published and distributed in Australia by:
Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd. •
18/36 Ralph St. • Alexandria NSW 2015 • Phone: 612-9669-4299 •
Fax: 612-9669-4144 •
www.hayhouse.com.au

Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by:
Hay House UK, Ltd. •
292B Kensal Rd., London W10 5BE • Phone: 44-20-8962-1230 •
Fax: 44-20-8962-1239 •
www.hayhouse.co.uk

Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by:
Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.,
P.O. Box 990, Witkoppen 2068 • Phone/Fax: 27-11-467-8904 •
info@
hayhouse.co.za
•
www.hayhouse.co.za

Published and Distributed in India by:
Hay House Publishers India,
Muskaan Complex, Plot No. 3, B-2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070 •
Phone: 91-11-4176-1620 • Fax: 91-11-4176-1630 •
www.hayhouse.co.in

Distributed in Canada by:
Raincoast • 9050 Shaughnessy St., Vancouver, B.C.
V6P 6E5 • Phone: (604) 323-7100 • Fax: (604) 323-2600