| J. K. Rowling is the English writer who
| |
| | Persevere.
|
| has authored all seven beloved and widely
| |
| | "It is our choices . . . that show what
|
| read Harry Potter novels. At age 41, her
| |
| | we truly are, far more than our
|
| rise to fame and fortune is inspiring.
| |
| | abilities."
|
| She has sold over 325 million books. The
| |
| | - Rowling
|
| final book in the series, Harry Potter
| |
| | Rowling moved to Portugal to teach
|
| and the Deathly Hallows, was the
| |
| | English as a Second Language in 1991 and
|
| fastest-selling book of all time.
| |
| | married her first husband in 1992. They
|
| Her fortune is estimated at $1 billion.
| |
| | divorced in 1993. The next year, she
|
| She is ranked as the 136th richest person
| |
| | moved to Scotland. At this point, she was
|
| in the world. In 2006, Forbes named
| |
| | an unemployed single mother living on
|
| Rowling the second richest female
| |
| | welfare. In 1995, she completed her
|
| entertainer in the world and ranked her
| |
| | manuscript for Harry Potter and the
|
| as 48th on the 100 most powerful
| |
| | Philosopher's Stone, typing it out on an
|
| celebrities list of 2007.
| |
| | old manual typewriter. She handed in the
|
| When this all began in 1990, however,
| |
| | book to twelve publishing houses. They
|
| things were very different for J. K.
| |
| | all rejected it.
|
| Rowling. She was not a published author.
| |
| | Rowling never gave up. She did not stop
|
| She did not have a lot of money. She was
| |
| | just because life was hard. Despite all
|
| living in London, working as a researcher
| |
| | the changes and setbacks she was
|
| and bi-lingual secretary for Amnesty
| |
| | experiencing, she carried on. She
|
| International, and her mother had just
| |
| | persevered. As small business owners, we
|
| died. How she got from there to where she
| |
| | would do well to keep her example in
|
| is today is a story filled with
| |
| | mind.
|
| invaluable tips for small business
| |
| | Tip # 4: Don't Let Anyone, Including
|
| owners.
| |
| | Yourself, Sidetrack You from Your Goal.
|
| Tip # 1: Don't Rush to Roll Out Your
| |
| | "If you're holding out for universal
|
| Product.
| |
| | popularity, I'm afraid you will be in
|
| "Destiny is a name often given in
| |
| | this cabin for a very long time."
|
| retrospect to choices that had dramatic
| |
| | - Rowling
|
| consequences."
| |
| | Finally, Bloomsbury, a small publisher,
|
| - Rowling
| |
| | agreed to publish the first book. Her
|
| Although J. K. Rowling had been a writer
| |
| | editor, though, says that he "advised
|
| all her life, she was slow to publish. "I
| |
| | Rowling to get a day job, since she had
|
| had written two novels before I had the
| |
| | little chance of making money in
|
| idea for Harry, though I'd never tried to
| |
| | children's books."
|
| get them published (and a good job too, I
| |
| | It's a good thing she didn't listen. All
|
| don't think they were very good)."
| |
| | seven volumes of the Harry Potter series
|
| All too often, as small business owners,
| |
| | have broken sales records and have been
|
| we rush to get a product out before its
| |
| | translated into 65 languages. What a
|
| time, before it's been fully considered
| |
| | shining role model Rowling is for small
|
| or tested. Rowling sets a great example
| |
| | business owners. She didn't let anyone
|
| of getting a product just right before
| |
| | stand in the way of her goal-not even
|
| presenting it to the world.
| |
| | herself.
|
| Tip # 2: When a Great Idea Grabs You --
| |
| | Tip # 5: Each of Us Has a Unique
|
| Grab Back.
| |
| | Contribution to Make to the World.
|
| "You sort of start thinking anything's
| |
| | "I just write what I wanted to write. I
|
| possible if you've got enough nerve."
| |
| | write what amuses me. It's totally for
|
| - Rowling
| |
| | myself."
|
| Great ideas are unmistakably powerful in
| |
| | - Rowling
|
| their announcement and come when least
| |
| | J. K. Rowling never went searching for
|
| expected. Rowling says:
| |
| | the kind of success she's received. "I
|
| "Where the idea for Harry Potter actually
| |
| | just wrote the sort of thing I liked
|
| came from, I really couldn't tell you. I
| |
| | reading when I was younger (and still
|
| was traveling on a train between
| |
| | enjoy now!). I didn't expect lots of
|
| Manchester and London and it just popped
| |
| | people to like them, in fact, I never
|
| into my head. I spent four hours thinking
| |
| | really thought much past getting them
|
| about what Hogwarts would be like. By the
| |
| | published."
|
| time I got off at King's Cross, many of
| |
| | It wasn't fame or wealth that J. K.
|
| the characters in the books had already
| |
| | Rowling sought. No. She simply wanted to
|
| been invented."
| |
| | contribute to the world in general, and
|
| As small business owners, we know when a
| |
| | to children specifically. As small
|
| great idea is upon us. The problem is, we
| |
| | business owners, this is so important to
|
| often question it, second-guess it, and
| |
| | learn. Focus on the unique something we
|
| rationalize it away. Not Rowling. She
| |
| | have to offer to the world. The rest will
|
| recognized the mark of a powerful idea,
| |
| | surely come, in ways we may not even be
|
| seized upon it and went with it.
| |
| | able to imagine.
|
| Tip # 3: Persevere, Persevere, and
| |
| |
|
