Love ’em—stories of highly gifted types who faced rejection by mere mortals. The following are by Grantley Morris, who writes: “When hit by rejection, it is uplifting to know you are not alone. Let’s begin by exploring this thought and follow it up with other insights to empower you to spring back to effectiveness after a major blow.”
Rejected as too awkward and clumsy to be a ball boy in a Davis Cup tennis match, Stan Smith went on to become the officially ranked number one tennis player in the world (1972-1973).
Would-be crime novelist John Creasey received an unbroken succession of 743 rejections. Over sixty million of his books have now been published.
‘What will they send me next!’ said Edmund Hillary‘s gym instructor of the puny school boy now known as the man who conquered Mount Everest.
Beethoven‘s music teacher declared him ‘hopeless’ at composing.
Mentally backward Max Raffler loved to paint. Over the years, as his paintings piled ever higher, his sisters would burn them to make room for more. Finally, when an old man, his artistic ability was recognised. The well-meaning sisters had destroyed paintings that would have sold for tens of millions of dollars.
It was the dead of night. A shadow slunk down the street. It was Charles with the dickens of a problem. He was off to mail his manuscript, huddling his guilty secret, petrified lest friends find out and ridicule him. The manuscript was rejected. More rejections pierced him before he won the hearts of millions with such classics as Oliver Twist.
An invitation was extended to witness one of humanity’s most historic moments —the Wright brothers‘ first flight in their heavier-than-air machine. Five people turned up.
Not Empty Now 