🌱 Hana and the Power of One “Yes”

One evening, after a long day at the mill, Hana read an article about J.K. Rowling — a single mother who wrote Harry Potter in the midst of hardship.

Rejected by 12 publishers, she refused to give up. At last, one small publisher, Bloomsbury, said “Yes”. That single decision transformed Rowling’s life and the lives of millions of readers.

Hana closed the magazine and reflected:

"If Rowling could write in the middle of struggle, why should I stop when facing setbacks at the mill? If she endured rejection after rejection, why should I quit when my proposals are declined or when my ideas are overlooked?"

🌟 Turning Inspiration into Action

The next day, Hana carried that lesson into her workplace.

When her safety proposal was rejected, she returned with stronger data.

When her wastewater treatment plan was ignored, she presented an alternative.

When production targets fell short, she reminded her team:

👉 “We may fall 12 times, but one breakthrough can change everything.”

🌴 The Leadership Lesson

Over time, Hana discovered that Rowling’s resilience was not only about writing — it was about leadership.

She often told her young managers:

> “Success isn’t about how many times you’re rejected. It’s about how long you keep moving until you hear that one ‘Yes.’ Sometimes, one open door is all you need to change your destiny.”

💡 Leadership Takeaways

Rowling’s story gave Hana three lasting lessons:

1️⃣ Rejection is not the end – rejection is part of the journey, not the destination [1].

2️⃣ Consistency beats talent – discipline and persistence create breakthroughs more than raw talent [2].

3️⃣ One Yes can change destiny – perseverance ensures you’re still standing when opportunity arrives [3].

📚 References

[1] Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown & Company.

[2] Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.

[3] Grant, A. (2016). Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. Viking.