The word quiet is typically overlooked and unappreciated.
Quiet success is something that is often misunderstood and misinterpreted. It
is during our quietest and darkest moments that our strength reveals itself.
Like a beautifully crafted photographic image we develop in darkness. This is
an experience that entrepreneurs understand better than most.
Failure will arise but it is how you respond to failure that
makes the biggest difference. We don’t run the great rat race because we can;
we do it because we must. An entrepreneur is like the humble runner in a
marathon amongst glory hogs.
We don’t run for the attention, audience, awards, or even
historical presence. We run because our passion, purpose, and vision push us to
the finish. So don’t be afraid of running quietly or quiet success. Although
your nay sayers may be loud now nothing quiets the crowd better than winning
the race.
Oprah Winfrey was
fired from her first television job as an anchor in Baltimore, where she said
she faced sexism and harassment. But Winfrey rebounded and became the
undisputed queen of television talk shows before amassing a media empire. Today
she is worth an estimated $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.
When Sidney Poitier first
auditioned for the American Negro Theatre, he flubbed his lines and spoke in a
heavy Caribbean accent, which made the director angrily tell him to stop
wasting his time. Poitier worked on his craft and eventually became a hugely
successful Hollywood star. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor and helped
break down the color barrier in the American film industry.
Mara Brock Akil: As
this year’s Essence Black Women in Hollywood Visionary Award recipient, Mara
talked about the struggles of being a black writer in Hollywood and how hard it
is to get networks to pick up your ideas. Thankfully, Mara didn't let the
constant rejection get to her as she’s now the creative mind behind BET’s hit
show “The Game,” which raked in 5.3 million viewers premiere night last season,
screenwriter for the remake of the film “Sparkle,” women behind UPN’s
early-2000s hit show “Girlfriends” and is the founder of Akil Productions along
with her husband Salim Akil.
Jennifer Hudson: After losing in the Season 3
competition of American Idol, many thought Hudson’s career was over. Proving
that it takes more than the disapproval of others to stop her from going after
her dream, the Chicago native auditioned for the film “Dreamgirls” and landed
the role of Effie White that led her to win several awards for Best Supporting
Actress including an Academy Award. With a booming acting and singing career,
Hudson is considered to be one of the most successful American Idol contestants
to date.
Taraji P. Henson: After
being being rejected from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC,
Henson’s acting dreams were crushed until her family motivated her to continue
following her passion. Shortly after graduating college, Henson moved to L.A.
as a single mother in hopes of turning her dreams into reality. In 2001 she
landed a role in John Singleton’s “Baby Boy,” and despite audition after
audition, it wasn’t until three years later that she earned another film role.
Now with several No.1 box office films under her belt and an Oscar nomination
for her role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Henson is proof that it
takes failure, patience and struggle to reach success.
