I have been at it here for a couple of months, and it can be frustrating at times. Maybe even hopeless ! Trust me, I know. I've been there. But the hard work is starting to pay off as I'm beginning to see some Light. To all the rest of my fellow Minnows , just be rest assured throughout the history of Man what you are experiencing is nothing new. Many great people who have achieved great things went through similar struggles along their journey to attaining great Success.
Don't believe me? Well....
Jk Rowling :
Yeah that's right ..the one of Harry Potter fame and stature . Struggles for her ?? No way you say... YES way !! . Before striking gold with her Harry Potter Novels, Rowling was on welfare in the UK with a newborn and was recently divorced. In a speech to Harvard University for Commencement ceremonies in 2008 , billionaire Rowling says
quote, "I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.”
During her time of struggle she went into a dark depression and by her own account hit rock bottom. Her daughter inspired her to seek help. And she found an outlet in Writing. The fact is Rowling finished the first two books while on welfare. And in the third book of the series, the demented characters were inspired by her deep, dark depression. It seems Rowling took her situation of despair and turned it around and actually used it as an impetus to move forward to heights that no one could ever imagine. And heights that the World is still enjoying in the form of books and critically acclaimed movies on the big screen. :)
Nelson Mandela :
Just remember young Minnows when you are going through the journey here at Steemit and things seem trying at times and even hopeless, well take a second and remember that Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in a small Cell of his own hopelessness before realizing his great dream of being a World leader .
(Source Above to the Right Pixabay.com)
Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa :
Who ?? Yes, many of you may not have heard of him. But let me tell you his Story is no less impressive than Rowling and Mandela. In some respects, I think it is even more moving (imho)
In 1987 at the tender of 19 with $65 in his name at the time , Quiñones-Hinojosa scaled the fence at the US/ Mexican border looking for a better life in America. He worked for 12 years as an impoverished migrant worker picking grapes, cotton, tomatoes, and other crops before graduating with Honors from Harvard Medical school.
" Hard work, resiliency, perseverance, never giving up on your dreams are the same principles then ( as a migrant worker) … that keep me going today as a brain surgeon, scientist, professor, philanthropist and entrepreneur,” he said.
He is a leading brain surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Florida. And when he was working in the fields all these years ago with nothing but a 'silly dream' of being a doctor he vividly recounts what one relative said to him at that time , "Alfredo this is it. This is what you and I and all our family will be doing the rest of our lives. Don't expect anything more than these fields" . He just took this and used it as kind of tool to drive him that much more closer to his dream of being a doctor
Conclusion
It bares worth repeating ( sometimes over and over again) that anything worth going for will take time, perserverance, and yes many times hardship and struggle. That is just a part of Life.
What these three individuals did was amazing but as a Minnow you too can learn and benefit from their stories.
And use these simple principles to guide you to the top just like it did for them :
- Seeing rock bottom as a Foundation and not some hopeless dark Pit
- Using Setbacks and Obstacles to be the fuel and motivation to move forward toward your Goals and Dreams
- Putting the odds in your favor of reaching Success by sheer Persistence and a Stick-to-it-iveness.
Bottom Line : Your perspective in how you confront your Struggles along the journey is of paramount. The most highly successful people ( including successful Steemians) are the ones who are able to take a step back and look at the hardships along the journey as not just part of the process...but actually embrace the process because they know it will make them that much stronger and make their Life that much more enriching in the long run !!
Cheers to you my Minnow friends and onward march,
Robert :)
(DISCLOSURE : The article above is my own original, unique work inspired and assisted by these credible Sources: designluck.com, nytimes.com , Twincities.com )
