Did you know that Einstein didn’t speak until he was 4 years old? His teachers thought he was developmentally delayed. 

Or that Thomas Eddison was considered to be “slow” as a child? Then there’s Walt Disney, who was fired from his first newspaper job because he “lacked imagination”. Beethoven’s teachers thought he was hopeless when it came to music composition, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team because his coach said he “wasn’t good enough”. And during an early screen test, a casting director famously wrote of Fred Astaire, “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Crazy isn’t it? 

You see, everyone of these people went on to become the best in their field. A household name. A world-changer. Einstein’s work revolutionised physics and had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe, technology and modern science. Thomas Edison went on to create the lightbulb, and also develop several inventions that had a significant impact on other technologies such as the motion picture camera, batteries and flouroscopes. Walt Disney, well, you probably don’t need me to tell you what he went on to achieve? Beethoven became one of the most famous composers, despite losing his hearing. Michael Jordan become the greatest basketball player of all time, winning 10 scoring titles, the most in NBA history and never losing an NBA final. And Fred Astaire went on to become one of the greatest dancers in film history and a legendary figure in the world of entertainment. 

Every single one of these men achieved something great – and every single one of them had been told they were not good enough. They’d been told their dreams were unrealistic, that they didn’t have what it takes and that they probably shouldn’t aim too high. What terrible advice. 

But we’ve all been given it, haven’t we? How many times has someone you know told you that your ideas are crazy? Or counselled you to “be more realistic”? As a business owner, you’ve probably got big dreams and crazy ideas. Are they achievable? I don’t know. Do you have what it takes to make it happen? That’s a question only you can answer. 

But I do know one thing… Other people’s opinions don’t matter because as you can see from the list above, they’re quite often wrong. At Millennium Cargo, we’ve got some big expansion plans and crazy growth goals. Some people will probably tell me it can’t be done, but that’s not for them to say. So chase your dreams, leave the naysayers behind you and do what you know you can do to leave your mark on the world. 

Have you ever been told your big plans, goals or dreams can’t be achieved? Or that you’re not “good enough” to achieve them? Did you prove them wrong? I’d love to hear your stories…