Rejection hurts
We all know the sting: the job application that went unanswered, the pitch that fell flat, the idea that others just didn’t get. For Walt Disney, rejection wasn’t just a bump in the road, it was the entire terrain.
Before he became the man behind Mickey Mouse, Disneyland, and one of the most iconic brands in the world, Walt was just another struggling dreamer with an idea that people kept turning down. In fact, Disney pitched Mickey Mouse and his vision for an animated universe more than 300 times, only to hear the same response: “No thanks”.
Studios didn’t think it would work. Investors weren’t interested. Some said animation was for kids. Others thought it wasn’t a real business. And yet, despite the mounting rejections, Disney kept going.
Why? Because he believed in the idea enough to outlast the disbelief of others.
Had Disney stopped at the 1st, 5th, or even the 100th rejection, Mickey Mouse wouldn’t exist. There would be no Disneyland. No Disney World. No legacy. But he didn’t stop. He adjusted, rethought, re-pitched and moved forward.
That’s the part most people don’t talk about. They remember Disney as the visionary genius, not the man who ate cold beans in a rundown studio, who got evicted, or who once had to sell his camera just to stay afloat. Rejection didn’t break him. It built him.
“All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
- Walt Disney
Every “no” you hear is simply proof that you’re in motion. You’re out there, trying. And just like Walt Disney, every rejection you face can teach you something, about the world, your pitch, your audience, or even yourself.
Disney’s story teaches us that believing in something isn’t about convincing others first, it’s about being convinced yourself, deeply enough to weather the storm of doubt until others finally catch up.
Had Disney waited for approval, he would’ve died unknown. But he didn’t wait. He built. And with every brick made of belief, he laid the foundation for a kingdom that now stretches across the globe.
Rejection stings, but it doesn’t have to stop you. It can fuel you, shape you, push you to grow. All it takes is one “yes”, and the patience to keep going until it arrives.
So now I ask you:
What dream of yours is worth hearing 300 “no’s” for, if it means finally earning the one “yes” that matters?
Thanks for this admirable lesson. I have projects in mind that definitely need to be adjusted, rethought, re-pitched to be able to move forward. You’re my inspiration. 👍🏻
This is a great LIFESTORY because it is very common that we do not believe either in ourselves or on our capabilities and strengths. Stories like this give us the fuel to challenge ourselves to keep pushing hard on our life plans in the right direction despite the brief deviations life pose on us. Great. Thanks.