I wonder how many people have given up on their dreams when the next door they opened would have brought them success. I wonder how many people have given up one day too soon!
One reason people give up is because they think they have failed. Acknowledging failure in itself is devasting. However sometimes, the biggest fear is how others will judge them. Of course, that is the worst reason to quit.
I’m sure you would be astounded by the number of formidable people who have failed. Some move forward –making changes and alterations to their plans. Others move forward and try something new, while others give up. Just to name a few, people like Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill, Harrison Ford, Madonna and Bill Gates have all failed. But I’d like to focus on one woman.
J.K Rowling—Author of the Harry Potter series.
She may be one of the most accomplished “failures” of our time.
Let’s look at some highlights:
- She had a strained relationship with her father. In fact, to this day, she still does not speak to him.
- Her mother had Multiple Sclerosis
- She applied to Oxford and was rejected.
- At age 25, she developed the now famous “young wizard” on a 4-hour delayed train. She has said that the idea was “fully formed” from its inception. The same year, her mother died, which left her depressed and suicidal.
- She married and had a daughter.
- She was in an abusive relationship.
- At age 28, she was divorced, broke and had only completed 3 chapters of Harry Potter.
- She signed up for welfare benefits and described her situation as being “poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain without being homeless.” She considered herself a complete and utter failure.
- She finished her manuscript by age 30 and the book was submitted to 12 publishing houses, all of whom rejected the manuscript.
- A year later, Rowling was finally given the green light and about a $2,000 advance. At that time, the publisher advised Rowling to get a day job since she had little chance making money in children’s books.
- In 1997, seven years after the initial idea for the young wizard, the first Harry Potter book was published.
- By 2004, Rowling had become the first author to become a BILLIONAIRE through book writing according to Forbes.
My question to my readers is simple. How would you have handled all these failures? When would you have said, “enough is enough?” Would you have allowed all these obstacles to stop you dead in your tracks? Would you endure failure and poverty and continue to pursue your passion? Would you have continued to do whatever it takes to “Live Your Dreams?” Or would you have simply given up?
Having failed a number of times in my life, I live by three quotes:
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
― Maya Angelou
“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”
― Truman Capote
Never give up. Believe in yourself. Your success is waiting for you. Just open the next door!
― Tiffany James