A Lesson from the Eagle

USA Today had an interesting article on J.K Rowling, who will be publishing the 6th book of her Harry Potter series next week. Last year, Rowling appeared on the Forbes list of the richest people in the world. Her estimated net worth is $1 billion. This puts her in front of the queen of England whose worth was listed at $660 million. What's more interesting is that in less than a decade, she's gone from a struggling single mother to a billionaire who is known all over the world.

Barry Cunningham, her first editor gave her what he now sees as some really terrible advice. When first approached by Rowling about the Harry Potter series, Cunningham told her that there was no money to be made in children's books and suggested that she try to get a day job. Since then, her first five books have sold an estimated 270 million copies world wide.

You can always count on those nay-sayers who tell you why your dreams just aren't realistic. Imagine the results if Thomas Edison had listened to all his critics after his first thousand attempts at the incandescent light bulb.

My wife and I went to see the movie "Cinderella Man" a few weeks ago at the theatre. At one point in Jim Braddock's career there were people telling him that he needed to retire from boxing, that he was all washed up and, of course, the worst insult in those days- that he was a bum.

Braddock didn't listen to the critics who told him he didn't have a chance against the heavy weight champ Max Baer, a man who had already beaten one previous opponent so bad that he died in the ring. He was told he wouldn't last past the 1st round.

Most successful people are those that don't buy into everything the world tells them. They don't make their decisions based on what everyone else thinks or what the news says.

Have you ever noticed that unlike most birds, eagles don't fly in flocks? You can't find them in clusters because they don't conform to other activities of their own kind. They always fly solo. What about you? Are you going with the flow... buying in to what the majority tells you? Are you listening to all those who tell you that your ideas just won't work, that you need to just get a steady, secure job instead of finding a career you truly love?

"Strength of numbers is the delight of the timid. The valiant in spirit glory in fighting alone." - Mahatma Gandhi

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