The road to success is paved with many rejections

J.K. Rowling got twelve rejections from publishers when trying to publish the Harry Potter series.

The Beatles initially were rejected by four record labels. Decca Records famously turned them down, stating, “Guitar groups are on the way out.”

Sylvester Stallone wrote the script for “Rocky” but faced over 1500 rejections by studios, because he insisted on starring himself.

Dr. Seuss’s first book was rejected twenty-seven times by publishers.

Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job as a news anchor before hosting “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Albert Einstein despite his exceptional aptitude for physics and mathematics, was initially rejected from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Stephen King was rejected by thirty publishers.

Elvis Presley was told by a talent manager he should go back to driving trucks because he’d never make it as a singer.

Bill Gates before co-founding Microsoft, faced rejection for his first business venture.

Steven Spielberg was rejected three times from film school.

Vincent Van Gogh struggled and only sold a few paintings during his lifetime. After his death, he is now considered one of the most influential figures in Western art.

Gregor Mendel who laid the foundation for the modern science of genetics, did not receive much recognition during his lifetime.

Emily Dickinson lived a reclusive life and published only a few poems, anonymously. Her complete works were discovered after her death, and she is now regarded as one of the most important poets in American literature.

You

You are special.
You are worth it.
You can achieve anything.

Then, life hits you with rejection.

You get scared.
Fear sets in.
You quit.

What if…

…J.K. Rowling had burned her manuscript after the eleventh rejection?

…The Beatles had moved on after the fourth rejection?

…Stallone had accepted the 1499th sign from the universe and quit his dream?

…Dr. Seuss had stopped trying to get published after the twenty-sixth rejection?

Why not you?

Nobody strikes harder and faster than life.

When life knocks you down, you need a solid foundation to get back on.

• You need a solid foundation of self-awareness, discipline, competence, adaptability, and persistence.

Because life only rewards those who persist.
Those who don’t take “no” for an answer.
Those who face rejection and try again.

You have what it takes to join the Hall of Fame.
You just have to want it enough.

So try again.

Get back up.

Don’t quit!

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