Well those personal stories are a tough act to follow. So, I'll post a celebrity one.
No Doubt was not an overnight success. It took many years of hard work, relentless touring, and perseverance for the band to accomplish what they have. It is an inspiration to me to keep up my own hard work and be patient.
If you believe in what you are doing, even if the odds are long, remember: No Doubt Anytime!
1987-1988 Part of the then-underground-ska-scene, No Doubt built a huge following of loyal SoCal fans after numerous gigs opening for The Untouchables and Fishbone, as well as their own all-ages shows.
UNDERGROUND BAND STRIKES IT BIG, SORT OF August 1991 No Doubt signs a "big" recording contract with Interscope Records; they continue driving around in their old cars and work day jobs (Gwen and Tony were sales people at the same department store, Adrian waited tables at a steak house, and Tom ran a small music equipment rental business).
Oct.-Dec. 1991 Between working and going to school, the band drives to a Los Angeles studio as often as possible to record their debut album, on a budget, they spend less than $13,000.
March 1992 Self-titled No Doubt released. Only 30,000 sold; grunge is in; they don't get played. The program director of LA radio station KROQ:
"It would take an act of God for this band to get on the radio."
In support of the album, the band embarks on their first two-week 13-show Western-state headlining tour in two vans (five members, a three-piece horn section, a roadie, tour manager/soundman and equipment).
Summer 1992 Band makes video for "Trapped In A Box" for a mere $5,000; MTV never played it. No Doubt once again make a two-week Western run. Fall 1992 Hitting the big time, the band undertakes a two-and-a-half month national-tour -- still in a van.
FROM TRAGIC TIMES COMES MAGIC March 1993 No Doubt begins the first sessions for what would be called Tragic Kingdom. The album was recorded in eleven different studios over two and a half years. Tony refers to it as a "battleground" -- and there were casualties.
1994 Eric departs before the completion of Tragic Kingdom, and continues as an animator for The Simpsons. After a seven-year relationship, Tony gets claustrophobic and dumps Gwen; the singer has plenty to sing about and "Don't Speak" evolved from a love song into a broken heart song.
October 1995 Tragic Kingdom, a mixture of ska, new wave, pop, punk and rock, is released. Of the lyrics, Gwen says: "We went through some really bad times in the past couple years -- personally and bandwise -- and our whole way of dealing with that is humor and I think that's really apparent in the record."
Album doesn't make the charts and KROQ doesn't pay attention. Winter 1995 New wave-ish "Just A Girl" gets massive requests. KROQ pays attention; band smiles.
In support of Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt tours several weeks followed by holiday radio shows.
January 1996 Several months after it's release, Tragic Kingdom debuts on Billboard's Top 200 at No. 175, and the single "Just A Girl" reaches No. 10.
Band begins their first European tour, followed by dates in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Japan.
July 1996 Tragic Kingdom goes Platinum. Although No Doubt had been headlining in clubs for seven years, the band embarks on their first sold-out theater-size headlining tour.
November 1996 After performing nearly every night for a year, Gwen's vocal chords are strained; the band cancels its second European tour; the dates are made up in February and March 1997.
Dec. 1996 Tragic Kingdom reaches No. 1 in Billboard -- 14 months after its release. The album will spend nine weeks at No. 1, and 36 weeks in the Top 10.
January 1997 No Doubt attends American Music Awards after being nominated for Favorite New Artist Pop/Rock. Band's super excited even if they don't win. "Not bad, Best New Artist and we've been around for 10 years," marvels Gwen.
March 1997 No Doubt celebrates Tenth Anniversary!!!
More here:
http://tragickingdom.net/nodoubt-tenyears.html