What failures or struggles did Steven Spielberg have before he was successful?

Answer 1

Even though he did not know until 5 years ago he has dyslexia his whole life. He was denied 3 times to the University of Southern California's film school and instead studied English but later dropped out.

Answer 2

Spielberg became an A-List director after Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind .

His spoof 1941 was clearly a failure, critically and financially. It only made money due to foreign distribution.