Around this time of year, most people find themselves reflecting on what they have done the last 365 days, what they wish they had done and what they plan on doing in the upcoming year. It is also a fantastic time to plot, plan and scheme so you can take your business to the next level or fulfil your dreams of finally starting your own business.
If you have had an idea in your head for some time but feel hesitant about moving forward with it, now is the time to really get serious and put your thoughts to paper. If you do not draft a business plan to map out your project, it may always remain a dream, one you may regret not pursuing further down the road, the same if you want to advance your existing business.
Have you ever wondered how others around you seem to have “all the luck?” Most of the time, luck has absolutely nothing to do with it; hard work and perseverance are key but so is faith in yourself and your abilities. Since it is the end of the year, lets not lay it on thick but instead find inspiration in some real life stories of some pretty familiar faces who were knocked down by their industry but found a way to bounce back and become successful in their field.
A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he apparently “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He had several more failed business ventures before the film “Snow White” premiered and turned him into an overnight success, shaping many of our childhood memories.
Steven Spielberg was rejected by the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts on various occasions. Spielberg is now one of the most recognized names in the industry after creating the first summer blockbuster in 1975 with the film “Jaws” (a film that left many mothers with extremely traumatized children). This poor decision put the university on the map for all the wrong reasons and I bet they are still kicking themselves over it.
Henry Ford failed miserably a few times trying to make his mark in the car business to the point his reputation was left in tatters. He picked himself up and launched the Ford Motor Company that changed the industry forever with his assembly line production approach.
Lets get a successful woman in here too. Like her or love her, J.K. Rowling rose to fame after writing the Harry Potter series of seven books. What many aren’t aware of is that she was a single mother on benefits and suffered from depression at the time she wrote the first book. She since became the first billionaire author in 2004.
Finally, Albert Einstein surprisingly had learning and communication difficulties as a child obviously not because of a lack of intelligence because his name is synonymous with brainiacs. He has made amazing scientific discoveries and won the Nobel prize in physics.
These are prime examples of people who fought for their dreams and turned negative feedback around to their advantage and let it fuel them to achieve their goals, proving their doubters wrong at the same time. If you want to accomplish your own goals, you too will have to work hard, plot, plan and scheme your way to success in 2015 and if you suffer setbacks, pick yourself up, dust yourself down and keep going! All the effort you make now will definitely pay off in the future.
