If you're going to live a life creating programs, stories, poems, or any kind of art, you must learn to overcome rejection. There are as many stories about artists starving as there are artists -- the ranks of restaurant workers are filled with young (and not-so-young)people making money while waiting for their big break. You probably know someone in this situation today; I certainly do.
Great ideas and talented people are rejected every day by the established media. Every record company in the UK passed on the Beatles, until George Martin at Decca decided to give them an audition. Every network passed on the Cosby Show, until NBC finally agreed to give it a shot. Robert Redford starred in both movies and theatre in the early 1960s, but almost didn't get the part of the Sundance Kid -- reportedly one studio executive said of Redford, "he's just another California blonde. Throw a stick at Malibu and you'll hit 50 of them." The film's producer and director believed in Redford, and gave him the part that launched him to superstardom.
You, too, need to persevere. Your ideas and art are likely to be rejected by most major companies, and even friends and family -- at first. If you believe in your idea, and your talent, you owe it to yourself to keep going. Find a way to create your vision. If you've been reading this blog regularly, you've received several suggestions for how to make that happen. You'll get more in the future. But all the advice in the world won't help if you won't get to work realizing your vision. Do something today that moves your idea forward.
After all, how do you want to be remembered? As the creator of your program, or as someone who had a great idea but did nothing with it?
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