Einstein in 1947. Photograph by Orren Jack Turner.

Rejection is one of those things all of us have to face. It might be in a studio review; our professor is not happy with our work or the direction we've taken. It can even be in the workplace, after working hard on something, those above us ridicule and criticize it. And there are still those moments when we are in search of a job or some opportunity; we put our best self out there only to receive rejection after rejection. We begin to see a future devoid of any promise, as we focus on these present moments of misfortune. But when we look back at our lives, we realize that many of our defining moments stemmed from times of hardship. How do we take what seems to be a setback and see it as a progressive step forward? As we craft a future for ourselves, facing tribulation becomes a paramount necessity.

Who rejects a genius?

When, in his early twenties, Albert Einstein graduated from college, he, like any young aspiring adult, began to look for his first career opportunity. But it would take two excruciating years and countless applications before the young graduate finally finds a job. Walter Isaacson captures this best in his biography on the famous physicist:

"Among the many surprising things about the life of Albert Einstein was the trouble he had getting an academic job. Indeed, it would be an astonishing nine years after his graduation from the Zurich Polytechnic in 1900 - and four years after the miracle year in which he not only upended physics but also finally got a doctoral dissertation accepted - before he would be offered a job as a junior professor." (Einstein. His Life and Universe, page 56)

The job Einstein took after his two-year search was at the Swiss Patent Office, a posting not typical for someone with a degree in physics and mathematics — he was desperate to provide for his family. However, as we will see, this posting turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

We consider Einstein a gifted genius, and indeed he was, but early on in his life he didn't really show any promise

We consider Einstein a gifted genius, and indeed he was, but early on in his life he didn't really show any promise. He failed his entrance exam into University (he had to study for the exam again for a year and then go back to retake it and still barely passed) and was not particularly good in any other subjects other than physics. On numerous occasions, he needed the help of his friends to figure out his theories. And once accepted into college he hardly attended class. On all accounts, he was mediocre.

But we all know who he went on to become, it was just that the people who could have given him a chance early on had no way of knowing what they were missing. He had not yet produced anything of value, he didn't shine as a student, and his job application letters came off pretty desperate. It might be the same for us. Sometimes we have to show the world what we can do before it will give us a chance. In the beginning, we might not be able to get that dream job, but that does not mean that we do not have something to offer. Our path may be different. If it takes a couple of months to find a job, no big deal, just remember, it took Einstein two years.

If it takes a couple of months to find a job, no big deal, just remember, it took Einstein two years

Time to mope? Most definitely not

So after finally getting a job at the Patent Office, we would imagine Einstein probably felt like he'd failed. He obviously would have preferred a job as a professor; it's what he had been working towards for years in school. But, with a family at home to care for, he was quite grateful to finally have an income. Being a patent clerk allowed him to see a wide range of inventions, stimulated his mind, and helped him explore the practicality of how things functioned, something that aided him in his theorizing later on.

The young theorist took advantage of the time he had outside of the education system to write four papers that completely blew the top off of the world of physics, two of which included his theory of special relativity and the famous equation e=mc2. Instead of licking his wounds, Einstein turned what seemed like a dead end into what we now call his Miracle Year. It was during his time outside of work (and sometimes during work) that he diligently worked on his ideas, determined to show the world what he was capable of. His result was some of the most profound discoveries in science. So much for lack of merit.

When we aspire for something great, we sometimes need to show people what we're made of. Where we are now never has to be where we will end up — that is entirely up to us. One year no one is giving us a second thought and the next we're turning down countless opportunities. When people see something tangible we've produced, our ability is vindicated. After Einstein got his papers published his genius was undeniable. Before that, no one cared who he was. He knew that he had something to offer the world and didn't care how long it took him or how many people told him he wasn't good enough. He just kept at it until he cracked his theories. How quickly have you heeded to the criticism of others?

Sometimes the “bad” is actually good

There is a Shakespearean saying that goes: "for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." In the case of Einstein, his job at the patent office put him in a setting where he needed to buckle down and hone his skills in physics. One might wonder what would have happened if he received a professorship right away.

I remember back when I graduated high school I applied to two architecture schools that I desperately wanted to attend: Woodbury and SCI-Arc. I took steps to visit the schools, meet with the admissions counselors, had them look at my portfolio, everything. I was so excited because I was ready to begin my journey in architecture and these schools were my way to get there. As it came time to hear the decision, SCI-Arc was out of my price range, which was okay with me because I was more drawn to Woodbury. I waited a couple more months when I suddenly received a call from the counselor I had been working with. He informed me that he didn't typically call applicants but because of how much he knew I desired to attend the school he wanted to personally tell me that I had not been selected — I was devastated.

After accepting that I would not be attending a four-year University right out of high school, I enrolled in my local community college and got started in the architecture courses there. Long story short: I completed two years at that community college, learned a ton about architecture, met mentors that I still talk to today, and ultimately transferred to Woodbury, placing in second year, and fast-tracking my way to graduate a year early. In the end, I still received my B. Arch degree in 5 years, but instead of building relationships at one school I built them at two, saved a lot of money, and was able to gain a more robust outlook on architecture. My "bad" actually turned out to be good. With Shakespeare in mind, my not being accepted in the beginning was only bad because I decided it was.

... instead of building relationships at one school I built them at two, saved a lot of money, and was able to gain a more robust outlook on architecture

Know what you’re good at

After Einstein published his paper on Special Relativity, he spent the next ten years working on a theory of General Relativity, a more complex and comprehensive theory of the universe (of course this is a simplified explanation as this is not a piece on physics). Ten years on one idea?! This is what made Einstein so different from the rest of us — he stuck with things.

During the development of his General Theory, Einstein knew that he could never figure out the mathematics by himself, so he called upon his friend, Marcel Grossmann, who was himself a genius in mathematics (in college Einstein would use Grossmann's notes from math class because he would always miss the lectures). Without recognizing his shortcomings in math or even if he tried to improve his math skills on his own, Einstein would have probably never completed his new theory and science as we know it today might be in a completely different state.

Most of us have a knack for something: rendering, 3D modeling, scripting, construction detailing, writing. Whatever it is, we should capitalize on our strengths when looking forward in our careers. If you're not that great at detailing but great at managing a team maybe you should work toward a project manager role. Or vice versa, perhaps you don't enjoy managing people but love the technical aspects of the job, a project architect role may be more suited for you. Maybe you love all aspects, then look for a place that allows you to be hands-on in everything.

Earlier on in our careers, it can be challenging to know what we are good at. It took me about three years before I knew what I liked and what I didn't like. The longer you work in architecture, the more you'll see that there are a lot of different ways of looking at how you can approach your career. Many people will say that you should know how to do everything while others will say that it is okay only to want to focus on specific things. Honestly, there isn't a right or wrong way to go about it. In the beginning, go in like a sponge, absorb everything that you experience, and in two or three years see what you're into. You have natural gifts that set you apart from other people, try and identify what those are and align yourself with work that allows you to use them.

It’s about diligence

Looking at the life of Albert Einstein we can see that even genius faces hardship. He failed his initial entrance exam into college and had to take time off to study and retake it. After college, he could not secure employment and was poor. He finally got hired as a patent clerk, a job that he took out of obligation. And even after his "Miracle Year" and the publishing of his groundbreaking General Theory of Relativity he is passed over on more than one occasion for the Nobel Prize due to anti-semitism.

But despite all of these setbacks, Einstein persevered at every level. He eventually was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics, offered many professorships, and became an international superstar. It's quite astonishing to see how his life ended up compared to how it started. Most people will want to attribute his success to his genius. Yes, this is a part of it, but his devotion and diligence to his work account for the larger reason. Einstein nurtured his natural talent.

When things look bleak, especially early on, it's hardly a reason for despair. In the moment it's hard, but there are few things in this world that will not succumb to human persistence. Keep on going, and in due time you will reap a reward for your labor.