Bob Odenkirk

What failed

After his sketch show ended he spent roughly ten years writing and producing television pilots. Most never reached air and none became a series. He directed two studio comedies, which scored twelve and fifteen per cent with critics and grossed about $4.6 million and $1 million.

What happened next

In 2009, at forty-six, he took what was written as a three-episode guest spot. The writers extended it, he became a regular, then carried his own spin-off for six seasons and six lead-actor Emmy nominations.

The point

His own summary is the line to keep: he tried exactly as hard on the things that failed. They were not half-hearted attempts that deserved to fail. They were real swings that missed, which is the only way to get enough swings in.