Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies for Giant Leaps in Work and Life

by Ozan Varol

It was a beginner who created a billion-dollar author. When J. K. Rowling submitted a draft copy of the first Harry Potter book to publishing houses, they were unanimous in their opinion: They thought the book was not worth printing. Her manuscript was rejected by numerous publishers, until it ended up on the desk of Nigel Newton, the chairman of Bloomsbury Publishing.89 Newton saw potential in the book where his rivals missed it. How? His secret was his eight-year-old bookworm daughter, Alice.90 After Newton handed a sample from the book to Alice, she devoured it and nagged him for more. “Dad,” she said, “this is so much better than anything else.” Alice’s input convinced her father to write a £ 2,500 check to Rowling as a meager advance for acquiring the rights to publish her book. The rest is history.