By Sunny Simon
Everyone has a super hero. Kids are wild about Iron Man, Spider Man or Super Woman. My super hero is an 80 year old woman named Judith. This lady may not be able to “leap tall buildings in a single bound,” or have extraordinary powers, but she deserves the super title.
This octogenarian role models kindness, inner strength of steel and most of all tenacity. Last year Judith completed her first novel. In an era where many authors self publish books, my friend was determined to have her work recognized and taken to market by a publisher.
For months she crafted numerous skillful query letters pitching her book and in return received polite no thank you rejection emails and letters. When most authors would have simply turned to self publishing and released a masterpiece into the world, Judith stood firm, stayed positive and never gave up.
Does this story about my super hero have a happy ending? You bet. Her book was published by a traditional publishing house. Judith always felt there is no shame in self publishing and applauds others for the “do it yourself, get it done and on Amazon approach.” It just was not her style.
The moral of this story is easily recognizable, right? It’s about not settling. It’s takes a considerable amount of tenacity to stay the course. There is a quote, “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places,” (author unknown) which describes the large majority of individuals who get discouraged and stop short of the goal line. Yes, I admit, I sometimes belong to that tribe.
Super heroes like Judith face the challenges head on and do not quit proving to the rest of us it can be done. I witnessed her fierce determination each time she flexed her courage muscles and flashed a determined grin as she wadded a rejection letter and tossed it into the nearest recycle can.
Are you discouraged and thinking about quitting due to your lack of success in accomplishing a goal? If so, I urge you to reconsider. Find a super hero and study his or her qualities for inspiration. Sure, like the champions you will encounter some hard knocks on the road to success. Learn to suck it up and keep moving forward. Continue to build your courage. Renew your commitment to your goals today.
A final tip from Judith: “PERSEVERE, PERSEVERE, PERSEVERE.” That phrase was found on the walls of the home of her writing mentor. It paid off. It can for you too.
Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com
