What if your next rejection is really your redirection?
Did you know November 18th is both Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s birthday?
The iconic Disney duo made their first appearance together in the 1928 film Steamboat Willie. Ever since, November 18th has been celebrated as their shared debut—the day the world first met two of the most beloved characters of all time.
But their story didn’t begin with magic and mouse ears. It began with loss.
Before there was Mickey, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit—Walt Disney’s original character. In 1928, after a painful contract dispute, Walt discovered he didn’t own the rights to Oswald. Universal Studios took the character—and most of his animators—with them.
He left that meeting devastated. On the train ride home to California, he could have given up. But instead, he picked up his sketchpad and began to draw… a little mouse.
That train ride was the turning point—the moment the seed of something that would eventually change the world was planted.
Because think about it: nearly a century later, everyone knows Mickey and Minnie. No one remembers Oswald.
That’s the power of redirection.
Today, Walt Disney is celebrated as a creative genius—a visionary who dreamed up entire worlds. But back then, he was just another struggling artist facing rejection, uncertainty, and financial strain. He didn’t have an empire. He didn’t have proof that his dreams would work. He just had faith, persistence, and a mouse.
And isn’t that how all creative journeys begin?
The gig that falls through.
The role you don’t get.
The art show or pitch that doesn’t sell.
The potential client who ghosts you.
It’s easy to see those moments as signs that you’re not good enough—but maybe they’re just your “train-ride moment.” Maybe they’re redirecting you toward your own version of Mickey Mouse.
Walt didn’t stop when he lost Oswald. He kept experimenting, refining, reimagining—and out of that season of loss came a story that shaped generations. What began as failure became the foundation of something iconic.
As we celebrate Mickey and Minnie’s birthday this November 18th, remember: the last few years have been tough for the creative world. The strikes, cancellations, and industry shifts have left many feeling uncertain. But please—don’t lose hope.
Because as Walt once said,
“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.”
One of the smallest, simplest ideas grew into one of the greatest creative legacies in history.
So take heart, dear creative. Your next idea, your next sketch, your next song or scene could be the beginning of your legacy.
What if your next rejection is really your redirection?
With Love & Gratitude,
Disney was all about creating magic, and I am too! That’s why I have a weekly newsletter called Money Magic Mail. Sign up below to get weekly inspiration, tips, and also be the first to get invitations to exclusive workshops and events.