Beyond No and Fueling the Impossible

In life, we’re constantly navigating uncertainty—whether it’s the job market, our careers, or the expectations placed on us. People often say it’s a tough world and that success demands relentless effort. Others feel paralyzed by the weight of unreachable goals and the noise of doubters telling them it can’t be done. But when someone asks me, “David, how do you break into the top 2% or land those top-tier leadership roles when everyone’s saying it’s impossible?”—I tell them, listen to me.

You don’t rise by playing small or believing in limits. You rise by rejecting “no” as an answer and fueling your journey with every ounce of drive, creativity, and grit you’ve got. The impossible is only impossible until someone does it.

Be that someone.

From managing a car wash at 14 to becoming a Vice President in Software Sales, my journey is living proof that limits are often illusions. At 14, I wasn’t just washing cars—I was leading a team of nine within three months. By 21, I was on construction sites learning how to build homes from the ground up. At 27, I turned a retail computer store job into a multimillion-dollar success story by launching corporate sales. And by 32, I went from the lowest rung in a software company to Regional VP, managing 85 people. That momentum never stopped—four more software companies, more leadership roles, and a 37-year career built on never accepting “no” as the final word.

The truth? You don’t wait for permission. You build your way forward.

So when someone tells you it’s impossible or that you’ll never make it, don’t argue—just smile and get to work. Remind them, not with words, but with results. Because the only true limits are the ones you accept. Let your success be the response, and let your journey prove that nothing can stop you—but you.

And let’s not forget my over 17 years as a Local Cleveland Artist with over 170 paintings and creations!

Words by DJB