In light of everything that J.K. Rowling went through on her journey to becoming a writer, she must be included on our list of authentic motivational stories.
J.K. Rowling was a divorced, unemployed, and severely depressed single mother in 1994. Despite her hardships, she never lost her passion for writing.
She was living off of unemployment benefits and dedicated every free minute to finishing her book.
At some point, she reached a point where she could call her manuscript complete. But first, she had to find a publisher that would be prepared to give her a go.
Her initial submission to a publishing house was met with rejection. She submitted it to another publishing house, but they turned it down too.
J.K. Rowling visited the offices of several publishers a total of twelve times. And twelve times she heard that her efforts were not appreciated.
She was on the verge of giving up at this moment. She had begun to doubt her own writing abilities after repeatedly being rejected.
Her manuscript was accepted, though, in the end. The novel that these publishing houses passed up on, Harry Potter, has since sold 500 million copies worldwide and spawned a film franchise that has earned billions.
When you hear a story like this, you can’t help but wonder how many talented painters, musicians, and writers we missed out on because of the word “no.”
How many people gave up too soon, not recognizing that their setbacks were actually helping them get closer to their goals?
Rowling’s narrative emphasizes the value of not letting setbacks define you. When faced with the fifth, eighth, or eleventh rejection, Rowling could have easily given up.
But her bravery and determination paid off, as her work is now appreciated throughout the globe, and she is living the life of her dreams.
