The Writer and the Fighter Part Two

Part one of this post was about the incredible success of world-renowned author, J.K. Rowling, through obvious talent, but also tenacity. In overcoming personal and professional adversity, she found a way to achieve her goal of becoming a writer. As mentioned in that post, in July 1995, as poor as one can possibly be in modern Britain without being homeless, and five years after committing to her dream at the commencement of the decade, she became one.

Five years later, over in the Republic of Ireland, a bullied twelve-year old Coner McGregor takes up boxing. By 2005, the teenaged school dropout was training full time, dreaming of being a fighter. Despite his unwavering belief in himself, he succumbs to family pressure to find a more likely achievable and financially secure path. Conceding to his parents, he becomes a plumber’s apprentice; albeit while continuing his training between shifts, and fighting on the weekends.

His mother and father were fine with this as it was deemed a realistic and practical career that provided a paycheck, but the long days on the job made it tough to focus on his goal. He may not have been certain of his future as a fighter, but he certainly knew he didn’t have one as a plumber. After a year-and-a-half of confliction, he quit punching the trade clock and resumed trading punches full-time. Despite parental disapproval – loudly voiced as the “bank of mom and dad” had run out of funds – and without a paying job or any of his own money, he soldiers on, relying on government welfare to finance his efforts. Instead of taking the road chosen by many or heeding the advice given by many others telling him to not quit his day job, he decided not to quit his daydream.

Undeterred by occasional losses or “learnings”, as he calls them, and a prolonged period featuring a lack of focus, he builds a local following. His last disconnect from his calling was in early 2013, a result of a training partner’s career-ending injury. Knowing the same thing may happen to him, he spent two weeks questioning his path. An opportune offer for a UFC fight – in nine weeks’ time – provided the answer, changing his life forever. After cashing a welfare check only the week before, he wins his UFC debut in spectacular fashion, pocketing a fight purse and performance bonus worth more than an Irish plumber’s annual salary at the time.

Like J.K. Rowling before him, he has generated success beyond his wildest dreams. Although both have since shown a side of them that have cost them some of their fans and followers, each has unabashedly and tenaciously found a way to indeed “make more monie”!

Disclaimer: The information contained herein should not be construed or considered professional advice. Nonetheless, thanks for reading! If it resonates, there’s “plenty more where that came from” on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube ‘n’ Twitter.

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