Been Rejected – Press On

If you have ever been rejected or turned down …congratulations!  You are now a part of a group of very well known and successful people who have also had this same experience.You might be surprised just how many truly talented and ultimately successful people were rejected, turned down, or rebuffed before they actually got their big “break”.  For most people there is no “overnight” success.  If there is, it has been proceeded by a long hard day of trying and trusting.  Here are a few examples:

Elvis Presley – We all know and love his music.  He is one of the best-selling artists of all time.  Back in 1954, Elvis was still an unknown.   Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis after just one performance telling him, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.”  We are sure glad he didn’t accept this rejection or take this advice.

The Beatles – Few people can deny the lasting power of this super group! When they first started out, a recording company gave them a big rejection. What they said was this: “we don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out”.  They couldn’t have been more wrong on either count.

Marilyn Monroe – Her first contract with Columbia Pictures expired because they told her she wasn’t pretty or talented enough to be an actress.  But Marilyn was passionate and kept plugging away and became one of the most well known and iconic actresses of all time.

Tom Selleck and Robert Urich – These two starred in a TV pilot in 1977 called Bunco.  The show was never picked up because a network executive decided that “the two of them will never make it.” Combined he said that they didn’t have enough talent or charisma to carry any show.  Urich went on the next year to star in the very successful show “Vegas” and Selleck, three years later, became a TV icon with his legendary character and show by the same name “Magnum P.I.”

Fred Astaire – In one of Fred Astaire’s first screen tests, an executive wrote: “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Slightly balding. Can dance a little.”  What an understatement that was!!!

From time to time we will encourage you with some stories of people who didn’t give up and eventually triumphed.  If you think you have a talent, or passion, or that there is something you were born to do…press on!  Aren’t we all glad these folks did 🙂  BTW-  The letter at the opening of this post was sent to none other than U2 star, Bono!