You may be the most creative person in the universe but if you can’t get past the word ‘no’ your dreams could fall to dust…
There are many great writers who were rejected, not once, but continuously before they realized their dream.
After journalist Margaret Mitchell spent ten years writing Gone With the Wind no one would publish it. In fact, 38 publishers rejected it before it was printed. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 and was made into an Academy Award winning film.
Although it won the Hugo Award, Dune by Frank Herbert wasn’t rushed to print. His epic science-fiction novel was rejected by 23 publishers before Chilton accepted it.
What is now a classic in the horror genre, Stephen Kings’ Carrie had no takers. According to reports, it was rejected 30 times before he threw the manuscript in the trash. His wife Tabitha retrieved it, and urged him to continue to pursue publication. Finally the book was accepted, and the rest as they say is history.
These are but a handful of examples. The list is pretty long, including D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, and M*A*S*H by Richard Hooker .
“No” is not a death sentence for your hopes and dreams. It’s just one person’s opinion. Those that can get past the ‘No’ despite all reasons not to, reach their destination.
What dream have you pursued no matter how many people told you it was ‘impossible’?
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katiebabs
on Jan 18th, 2009
@ 4:19 pm:
I was told countless times that there was no way I was good enough to work in a major city such as NYC and working in TV. My dream was to work for a major television network and no one thought I was good enough to accomplish that. Well, I find it funny for the past 8 years, I have been working in NYC in tv and video and now I work for a major television network.
The word “NO” is not in my vocabulary. You tell me I can’t, I tell you I can.
Kati
on Jan 18th, 2009
@ 4:31 pm:
I’m a meeting planner, so NO is simply part of the negotiation. I always say, “The answer is always no if you don’t ever ask the question.” So my feeling is, you have to go for it always.
Kate, I think your attitude is very admirable! I wish that I were more like that!
Maria Lokken
on Jan 18th, 2009
@ 4:54 pm:
Yes – I love your attitude Kate
Kati – What do you mean? You have a way of getting what you want. I can’t imagine you taking no for an answer. I just can’t.
Karin
on Jan 20th, 2009
@ 4:55 pm:
‘No’ is not something I’ve heard very often, but the few times I have, I have not let it really stop me from accomplishing something I’ve set my mind on. If one way isn’t working, I always look for something else.
One thing a lot of people told me was nearly impossible was my double major in English and Math when I was an undergraduate. I proved them all wrong when I finished both degrees in 4 years. It was hard work and some pretty hefty class loads to get all the requirements for each met since there was no overlap, but it was definitely worth it.