From Rejection to Remarkable: The Power of Staying True to Your Why

Did you know that early in life, Walt Disney was fired because his editor told him he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas”? I think that editor missed the mark—after all, has anyone been to Disneyland or Disney World lately?

The great basketball player Michael Jordan was cut from his high school varsity team. Yes, Michael Jordan was cut from a basketball team. He went on to win championships and set countless records. The man is nothing short of a legend.

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, was rejected by twelve publishers. Twelve people read her story and said, “This will never sell.” While she wrote the book, she lived in poverty.

Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four years old, leading his teachers to believe he’d never amount to much.

And The Beatles? They were rejected by Decca Recording Studios. The executives at Decca said, “We don’t like their sound—they have no future in show business.”

Every single one of these stories is true. Each of them went on to achieve extraordinary success—but only because they made a decision to. They refused to give up on their mission. In the face of rejection, they didn’t surrender their purpose.

Someone will tell you no. You’ll get passed over for a promotion. A rejection letter will arrive in the mail. A supervisor might tell you you’re not ready for the next step. When that happens, what becomes of your dream?

If Rowling had quit, there’d be no Harry Potter.
If Disney had believed he had no good ideas, there’d be no Lion King, Peter Pan, or theme parks.
If Jordan had accepted failure, the Chicago Bulls might not have built their dynasty.

But they kept going. The Beatles kept knocking on doors. Rowling kept submitting proposals. They didn’t abandon their purpose—they believed in their why.

Life will knock the wind out of you at times. When it does, keep going. Remember your why. The office may change. Leadership may change. But your purpose—your true north—should never waver.

At EAG, our mission is to create unparalleled experiences. Markets may shift. Competitors may rise. But our mission will remain the same.

No one remembers those who forgot their why and walked away.

Let us never waver in our commitment and belief in the mission.

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Intersecting life, luxury, and leadership,‍
Chris Adams

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