are not enough, no matter how good they are.
There is a person that you must become to
see your dreams come to fruition. If you don’t
become that person, your ideas are never
realised. It’s as simple as that.
11. Sometimes you must reject rejection. You have
to say no to the nos. That’s what Joy did. In the
movie, when the first attempt to sell her mops
on QVC failed, she was informed that there was
nothing more they could do for her. It was over.
But she had made thousands of mops and re-
mortgaged her house at this point, so she wasn’t
taking no for an answer. She demanded a second
chance and an opportunity to go on air to sell the
mops herself. She got what she wanted. When
you reject rejection, you will invariably get a
second chance.
12. You will be embarrassed. Prepare to be
humiliated. People are cruel, especially
frustrated people who have not realised their
dreams. They will laugh at you; they will mock
you, and they will ridicule you. They will tell
you that you are a bad wife, bad mother, bad
daughter, etc. You will encounter these things. In
the movie, Joy had to face humiliation before she
had her big break. And I am confident that there
was nothing fictional about that part of the film.
13. Sometimes you will throw in the towel. Oh yes,
life will test you before it lets you have your
dream. You will reach your breaking point and
more often than not, you will break down and
cry and throw in the towel. But you know what?
That’s okay. When you’re done crying, pick up
the towel, wipe your eyes, and get back in the
race. That’s what Joy did.
14. Be careful when you take advice. Not everyone
can give you sound advice. Don’t seek medical
advice from a lawyer or legal counsel from your
doctor. Do your homework. Don’t let people
intimidate you because of what you don’t know.
Don’t let them twist your arm to do things their
way. Do your due diligence. In the movie, Joy
made costly mistakes at the commencement of
her business because she accepted counsel that
was given her without doing her investigation
to determine if those advising were right. She
would eventually correct the mistake but only
after she had done her homework.
15. Great women are an inspiration to other
women. Their story sends across a simple but
powerful message to other women. One that
says, if I can so can you. Joy Mangano made it, so
can you.
What happened to you? What has become of the
dreams you had as a child? What would your younger
self say to you? Would they thank you?
people; you need their help, their money, their
time, and their skills. Don’t be afraid to ask for
what you need to make your dream a reality. In
the movie, Joy had helped everyone in her family
without making demands on them in return. But
when it was time to bring her dream to fruition,
she politely but firmly requested a return for
the favours she had given. When we need help,
we should not be ashamed or afraid to ask for it.
We must know when to ask for support. Great
women do.
Don’t
let others speak on your behalf. In the
5.
movie, Joy’s sister spoke on her behalf and
almost ruined her company. It is essential to
state here that Joy has no sister in reality, but
the lesson from the movie is vital, nonetheless.
People who have not been authorised to
speak on your behalf have no business doing
so, and you have no business honouring any
arrangements they made on your behalf as they
were acting without your permission in the first
instance.
There
will be dark days. Night precedes day. Get
6.
ready for rejection. Not everyone will receive
your ideas with open arms, and they don’t have
to. But if you keep going the yes will begin to
come, the doors will start to open, the day will
break, and the darkness will disappear.
7. When you begin to pursue your dreams, look out
for petty jealousy. In the movie, we see Joy face
plenty of petty jealousy from those close to her.
People will not necessarily hate what you are
doing; they will just hate that it is you doing it.
They will undermine what you do and say there
is nothing special about it and that anybody can
do it. Ignore the distraction and keep moving in
the direction of your goals.
8. Naysayers will tell you that you can’t. Oh yes,
prepare for that too. As you begin to act on your
dreams, naysayers will spring from everywhere
and tell you that you can’t embark on the
journey. They will give you the reasons why
you will fail. But please understand that often
it is not that you can’t, as much as it is that they
couldn’t. They will project their failure and
regrets on you.
9. You will have to fight for what you want. It will
not drop in your laps. You will have to make
sacrifices. You will lose some things. In the
movie, Joy almost lost her home, and she signed
the papers declaring she was bankrupt. The
pursuit of dreams is not easy or cheap, and that
is why not everyone can see their ideas come to
fruition.
10. You will have to demonstrate to those investing
in you that you have what it takes. Ideas simply
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DOZ Magazine | October 2019