Pursuing your dreams in a place like New York City definitely calls for a big leap of faith. It’s thrilling, yet daunting to set out on your own. Every once in a while, I meet people who really inspire me with their courage. One of the most profound emotions is feeling both laughter and tears simultaneously, and that’s exactly what I experienced with my tenant Timothy, who chased his dreams all the way to NYC.
Timothy was always a respectful tenant, never too late with his rent, and always courteous. When he decided to move back East, he let me know through a thoughtful handwritten letter. I was sad to see him go, but his decision to move filled me with pride.
I hosted several open houses to find a new tenant and noticed a surprising increase in female applicants this time—about 75% of them were women. During these open houses, I couldn’t help but notice a framed rejection letter from a publisher on Timothy’s wall. It was a stark reminder of his struggles. He worked at a low-paying nonprofit job that he didn’t enjoy much, but he was determined to change his path.
On his final day, we talked about his future plans. I half-expected him to say he was just quitting his job without a backup plan. Instead, he surprised me by revealing he had landed a job with a publisher—Random House, no less! And not just any job, but a deal to write a book, which actually turned into a three-book deal over six years!
Timothy’s journey wasn’t easy. He’d spent a year and a half writing two manuscripts and faced 32 rejections while working a full-time job. But finally, he found an agent who believed in him, and after even more rejections, he secured a contract that led him to New York. They celebrated the deal over dinner at Jean George’s, a perfect culmination to his perseverance.
Timothy’s story is a testament that anything is possible. Despite multiple rejections, he didn’t give up. He wrote another manuscript, found the right agent, and eventually got a top publisher to believe in his work.
In a tiny rental apartment lived a young, budding writer who showed us all that following your dreams is not just a cliché but a possible reality. So, what about you? Have you ever been caught off guard by your own ability to persevere? Are you chasing after your dreams? Let’s share some stories of unexpected successes and the resilience it takes to achieve them.
