They Said “It Can’t Be Done” – Here’s How They Did It Anyway

Most people never realize their full potential. They stay stuck in jobs they don’t like, relationships that drain them, and routines that keep them from greatness. Why? Because of limiting beliefs—the internal stories that tell us we can’t do something.

The good news? These beliefs can be shattered. Many of history’s most successful people started with nothing. They faced rejection, poverty, and failure. But instead of shrinking, they thought bigger. They refused to accept limitations. They broke the rules. And they changed the world.

Let’s dive into three extraordinary people who proved that thinking big is the key to success.

Case Study #1: Colonel Sanders – The Man Who Refused to Give Up at 65

At 65, most people are thinking about retirement. Harland Sanders was thinking about survival.

He had spent his life working odd jobs—steamboat pilot, insurance salesman, gas station owner. Nothing had ever really worked out.

Then, in his sixties, his fried chicken recipe changed everything. He had perfected a unique way of cooking chicken using a pressure fryer and a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.

But there was a problem. He didn’t own a restaurant. He had no money. All he had was a belief—this chicken was worth selling.

So he packed up his car and hit the road. He drove across America, sleeping in his car, going from diner to diner, trying to sell his recipe. And guess what? He was rejected. Again and again. Not 10 times. Not 100 times. He was rejected 1,009 times.

But on attempt 1,010, someone finally said yes. That one “yes” turned into two. Then ten. Then a nationwide franchise.

By the time he was 88, KFC had 6,000 locations worldwide. And Colonel Sanders had become a legend.

What if he had given up at rejection #500? What if he had believed he was “too old” to succeed?

Thinking big means believing in yourself when no one else does.

Case Study #2: Walt Disney – The Man Who Saw What No One Else Could

Walt Disney was fired from his first job at a newspaper. They told him he “lacked imagination.”

Imagine telling that to the man who would go on to create Mickey Mouse, Disneyland, and an entertainment empire worth billions.

But Disney’s early years were brutal. His first animation company failed. He moved to Hollywood with $40 in his pocket. He slept in his office because he couldn’t afford rent.

Then came Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, his first big hit. It looked like things were turning around. But his distributor stole the rights and took his animators with him. He was back to square one.

Instead of quitting, Disney thought bigger.

He came up with Mickey Mouse. And he took a massive risk—adding synchronized sound to his cartoons, something unheard of at the time. It worked.

But the real test came later. He had an idea for an animated feature-length film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. People called it “Disney’s Folly.”

“Who would sit through a 90-minute cartoon?” they asked.

They thought it would bankrupt him. Instead, it became the highest-grossing film of its time.

Then, he dreamed up something even crazier: Disneyland. A theme park like no other.

Banks refused to fund it. People thought he was insane. But he did it anyway.

Disneyland opened in 1955. Today, Disney Parks bring in over $20 billion annually.

Walt Disney refused to think small. When people told him something was impossible, he made it possible.

Case Study #3: Estée Lauder – The Woman Who Sold Beauty to the World

Estée Lauder was born Josephine Esther Mentzer in a poor immigrant family in Queens, New York.

Her parents ran a hardware store. Her future seemed ordinary. But Estée had a vision.

She was obsessed with beauty. As a teenager, she learned to mix skin creams from her uncle, a chemist. She started experimenting with homemade products.

Instead of waiting for someone to “give her a chance,” she created her own opportunities.

She went to hair salons, department stores, and beauty parlors. She handed out free samples and personally applied her creams to customers’ faces. She knew if people tried it, they’d love it.

She was right.

But her biggest breakthrough came when she broke the rules.

In the 1950s, major department stores rejected her. They told her, “We don’t need another cosmetics brand.”

Did she accept that? No. She walked into Saks Fifth Avenue and spilled an entire bottle of perfume on the floor.

Customers started asking where the amazing smell was coming from. The demand was instant. Saks had to place an order.

That’s how Estée Lauder got into high-end retail.

By the time she passed away, her company was worth billions. Her name became synonymous with luxury beauty.

What if she had believed she was just “a poor girl from Queens”? What if she had accepted rejection?

Thinking big means creating your own luck.

Conclusion: Your Beliefs Shape Your Future

What do Colonel Sanders, Walt Disney, and Estée Lauder have in common?

They didn’t accept limits. They didn’t listen when people told them they couldn’t. They thought bigger—and changed their lives.

Here’s the truth: If you believe you’re too old, too young, too poor, or not smart enough—you will stay exactly where you are.

But if you challenge those beliefs? If you act despite fear? If you refuse to accept “no” for an answer?