Happy New Year!
Whether you are starting 2016 unemployed, underemployed or simply pondering something better, each of us can use some enhanced patience and perseverance. Change, especially the kind related to our careers, doesn’t happen overnight. Here are some inspiring stories of people who creatively maximized their ‘wait time.’ 
It might just be the thing you need to turn lemons into lemonade and develop or discover your next opportunity.
Kat Cole, President and COO of Cinnabon Working towards to success with a strong work ethic What she did to pay the bills:
Kat began her career as a Hooters waitress in Jacksonville, FL. During her first year of waitressing, she learned every aspect of the restaurant biz.
Her creative grind/hustle:
Kat’s managers rewarded her enthusiasm and strong work ethic by sending her to a training program at headquarters. She dropped out of college to travel the world training employees and became a Vice President by age 26. Seven years later Kat left Hooters to become COO of Cinnabon in 2011. (Kat eventually returned to complete her education and receive her MBA in 2010 from Georgia State).
Jennifer Hudson, Award Winning Singer/Actor
You don’t have to finish first to make it big – just be open and take risks
What she did to pay the bills:
After working at Burger King in her late teens, Jennifer spent time working far from home. Jennifer worked as a singer aboard Disney Cruise Lines before landing a spot on the third season of American Idol.
Her creative grind/hustle:
Jennifer made it to the top 7 (contestants) before she was voted off the show. She continued to pursue her dream of being a singer/actress and took on the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls (2006), which won her an Oscar and Golden Globe. Two years later, she was awarded a Grammy for her debut album released in 2008. Jennifer remains one of the most successful former American Idols, to date.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Actor and Former Professional Wrestler
Ignore the experts’ advice
What he did to pay the bills:
After an injury caused his football career to fumble, Dwayne turned to the family business (wrestling) as his plan B.
His creative grind/hustle:
After becoming “Rocky” the wrestler ignored the advice, and even demands, of those in charge to be the “good guy.” Instead he created his self-confident alter ego and ‘The Rock’ – an A-list superstar wrestler, actor and producer was born.
George Lopez, Comedian and Actor
Pay your dues and keep laughing all the way to the bank
What he did to pay the bills:
Before pursuing a comedy career, George worked an entry-level job manufacturing airplane parts. Years later he landed his first stand-up gig at a Las Vegas casino.
His creative grind/hustle:
George spent 20 years as a virtually “unknown” comic in the standup circuit before being asked to host a morning radio show in LA, which opened up his path to stardom.
J.K. Rowling Bestselling Author
The unstoppable power of real talent and creativity
What she did to pay the bills:
J.K. was a divorced, single mother who she says, “was as poor as possible without being homeless” when she began writing the famously popular Harry Potter series on a train napkin.
Her creative grind/hustle:
Her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was rejected by 12 publishers. Lucky 13 came about because of a publishing exec’s eight-year-old daughter who read one chapter of the book and begged for more. Today the Harry Potter brand is worth $15 billion and Rowling’s books have been translated into 70 languages.
Sheryl Crow, Musician/Singer
Even when you get a break – you may have to wait for an even “bigger” one
What she did to pay the bills:
After graduating from college, Sheryl worked as a school music teacher – freeing her up to perform on nights and weekends. Later, she was given the opportunity to write commercial jingles for McDonalds and Toyota and even sing background vocals for Michael Jackson’s 80’s Bad World Tour.
Her creative grind/hustle:
In 1992, her original debut album was dubbed “unfit” for release by label execs. She was forced to go back to the drawing board and one year later became a household name when “All I Wanna Do” became a surprise hit.
Colonel Sanders, Entrepreneur, Kentucky Fried Chicken/Franchise Creator
Forget age and even money, persistence is the secret recipe for success
What he did to pay the bills:
At 65 years old, Harland Sanders was broke, owned a small house and a beat up car, and had just received his first social security check of $99.
His creative grind/hustle:
Sanders used the only thing he did have – an idea. He traveled throughout the south trying to convince restaurant owners to use his popular chicken recipe in return for a small percentage of the sales. He received 1009 rejections before finding the 1010th person to help fund his dream. The Colonel proves that it doesn’t matter how many “no’s” we receive, as long as we get the one and only “yes” that counts.
Everyone needs time to nurture and cultivate their dream. This week, read these and other inspirational stories of people who found innovative ways to make the most of their talents and time waiting for something better. Remember your “big break” is out there if you are persistent, and have perseverance and patience to uncover it.