More often than not, those who history best remembers as successful people were faced with numerous obstacles that forced them to work harder and show more determination than others.
Here is a list of 10 famous and successful people whose ideas seemed ludicrous in the beginning but were actually destined to be successful and practical.
1. Henry Ford
When Ford tried to present his project of a motor to a group of industrialists, nobody bothered to give him any importance. For them, what Ford presented was nothing and they would have thrown it in the trash.
However, he was only encouraged by Thomas Edison and today everybody is reaping the benefits of Ford’s idea: affordable vehicles for an average citizen.
2. Walt Disney
Every childhood is incomplete without Mickey Mouse. However, Walt Disney’s many ideas including Mickey Mouse were initially badly rejected.
Disney was told a giant mouse would frighten women. Walt Disney also suffered several financial blows. But eventually, Disney’s resilience paid off, and the Walt Disney Company turned out to be a huge success.
3. Colonel Sanders
We all love KFC. It’s one of the most favorite and distinguished fast food stores around the world. Harland David Sanders, better known to most as Colonel Sanders, however, experienced some serious rejection initially and we should thank him for his resilience. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have tasted his world-renowned chicken.
In the beginning, the Colonel’s famous secret chicken recipe was apparently rejected by restaurant owners 1009 times. The Colonel officially founded KFC at the age of 65. The company is now the world’s 2nd largest restaurant chain (in term of sales).
4. Elvis Presley
Can you imagine the likes of Presley being rejected for his poor musical performance? After a performance at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Elvis was told by the concert hall manager that he should return to Memphis and keep driving a truck. But he didn’t. And he became a legend.
5. Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King (although he doesn’t need any introduction) is an American author of contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy.
His books have sold more than 350 million copies but before that, his most renowned and first book, Carrie, was rejected thirty times. King decided to throw away the book, but his wife went through the trash to rescue it and convinced him to re-submit it.
6. J.K. Rowling
It is difficult to find anybody in this generation who wouldn’t know Harry Potter and its amazing author J.K. Rowling. Can you believe that the manuscript of Harry Potter was rejected not once, not twice but twelve times by publishers? Thanks to her strength, she didn’t give up and gave us one of the most entertaining books in today’s times.
7. Stephenie Meyer
The author of Twilight wrote 15 letters to literary agencies. Five didn’t reply. Nine rejected. One gave her a chance. The lesson.
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