“People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” – George Allen
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As I embarked on my writing career, I encountered numerous rejection letters, a challenge that many contemporary aspiring writers do not face. However, this did not dissuade me from persistently submitting features and articles to various publications, holding onto the slim hope that one or two might eventually be accepted.
Mod Magazine was one such publication that did accept my work. When my brief feature titled “Children Tell What Doctors Do” was published, my mother purchased several copies to share with her friends.
This achievement filled me with a sense of pride. I initially believed this marked the start of a fortunate turn in my career. Unfortunately, I was mistaken, as further rejections soon followed. In response, I chose to submit my articles to additional publications.
Being from the distant Davao del Sur, I felt at a disadvantage competing against writers based in Manila. Consequently, I revised my approach and began crafting topical features centered around events such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, and other significant occasions.
Several magazines began to incorporate some of my contributions, including Woman’s Home Companion, Focus Philippines, Expressweek, Philippine Panorama, Philippine Free Press, Philippine Graphic, Mr. & Ms., Money Asia, Woman Today, Greenfields, and AgriScope.
Although most of these publications are no longer in circulation today, some of the articles published in them garnered me several journalism awards, such as the Hall of Fame in science reporting from the Philippine Press Institute and Journalist of the Year from the Rotary Club of Manila.
Had I chosen to give up upon receiving those letters of rejection, I would not be where I am today. However, I chose to persist. I did not abandon my aspirations even when it appeared that my writing career had no promising future. I am grateful that I did not allow myself to be overwhelmed by the numerous setbacks I encountered.
It is only now that I came to realize what Leigh Micthell Hodges said. “Failure,” she pointed out, “is often that early morning hour of darkness which precedes the dawning of the day of success.”
American inventor Thomas Alva Edison had the same view in mind. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up,” he once remarked.
History is indeed filled with individuals who refuse to allow challenges—such as failures, obstacles, hardships, and poverty—to hinder their path to success.
“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed,” Scottish-born American financial journalist B.C. Forbes said. “They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”
Consider the example of Sylvester Stallone, renowned globally for his iconic roles in the Rocky and Rambo film series. Stallone faced significant adversity, having been expelled from 14 different schools and ultimately dropping out of college to chase his acting dreams.
Despite attending thousands of auditions, he struggled to secure any roles. At one point, he found himself homeless, spending weeks sleeping in bus stations after being evicted from his apartment. In dire financial straits, he even resorted to appearing in an adult film.
However, a pivotal moment came after he watched a boxing match, which inspired him to write a script that would transform his life. Although several producers expressed interest in purchasing the script, they were unwilling to let him star in the film.
Eventually, one producer took a chance on Stallone, agreeing to produce the film on a limited budget and in black-and-white. This film, Rocky, not only earned Stallone an Oscar nomination but also won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Howard Schultz, the visionary founder of Starbucks, was raised in public housing. He spent several years in the sales of photocopiers and coffee machines. Despite his efforts, he faced rejection 217 times when seeking a loan to establish his first café.
His ambition was met with skepticism, as many ridiculed the notion that consumers would pay more than 50 cents for a cup of coffee. During a challenging period, with his wife seven months pregnant and no income, he contemplated abandoning his aspirations.
Nevertheless, Schultz remained steadfast, ultimately achieving the status of a multi-billionaire and a revered figure in business and culture.
Similarly, there are women who don’t believe in quitting. Oprah Winfrey, who rose from poverty to become a dominant force in American media, faced significant hardships in her youth, including wearing dresses made from potato sacks. At the age of 13, she fled her home after enduring years of sexual abuse.
At the age of 14, she became pregnant. Tragically, her son passed away shortly after his birth. These events plunged her into a deep depression, which culminated in her writing a suicide note in her late 20s. The emotional distress she experienced in her early 30s resulted in significant weight gain and a struggle with crack cocaine addiction.
Despite these numerous challenges, she overcame all the obstacles in her life. Today, she stands as a testament to resilience, having become a self-made multi-billionaire.
To end this column, allow me to quote the words of Napoleon Hill: “Before success comes in any man’s life, he’s sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps, some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That’s exactly what the majority of men do.”
