In today’s fast-moving world, headlines are filled with stories about entertainers, pro athletes, business moguls, and political leaders. Meanwhile, the people who keep our workplaces clean and running smoothly often go unnoticed. Janitors, in particular, are rarely thought of as individuals with larger ambitions or untapped talents. But history proves that assumption wrong.

Below are three examples of individuals who started as janitors and went on to achieve great success. Their journeys show that hard work, character, and persistence can open doors to incredible opportunities.

Jim Carrey

Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable comedians, Jim Carrey faced real hardship. Growing up in Canada, his family hit financial rock bottom during his teen years. They ended up living in a van and relying on campgrounds for shelter. When Carrey’s father landed a job at a factory, Jim and his brothers were hired there too — as janitors. At just fifteen, Jim left high school and began working overnight shifts cleaning bathrooms and floors. Though it was a tough and emotional time, Carrey later said those struggles gave him the drive and grit that helped build his career in film and comedy.

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in 1856 and became a key figure in American education and civil rights. After the Civil War, his family moved to West Virginia, where young Booker worked in the salt mines starting at age nine. He’d put in hours before school, then go back to work in the evening. As a teen, he was accepted to the Hampton Institute. With no money for tuition, he paid his way by working as a janitor at the school. His schedule was intense — rising at 4 AM to clean, attending classes all day, and studying into the night. Eventually, he founded the Tuskegee Institute, which educated thousands of African Americans in the post-war South and helped shape the country’s future.

James Croll

Born in Scotland in 1821, James Croll had limited schooling and struggled with poor health and financial setbacks. He took on many jobs, including one as a janitor at Anderson University Library. That role, however, turned out to be life-changing. Surrounded by books and scientific journals, Croll spent his free time learning everything he could about physics and earth science. Over the course of seven years, he educated himself through reading — and eventually became a respected scientist. His research on climate and planetary motion helped lay the foundation for modern theories about the Earth’s ice ages.

So next time you pass a janitor in your building, take a moment to think beyond the uniform and mop. You might be looking at someone with a remarkable story — or the beginning of one.