I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

And, as the man across from me continued talking, I became incensed.

I was 21 years old, about to graduate college with a degree in print journalism.

I wanted to apply for a prestigious fellowship with one of the biggest newspapers in the country - The Arizona Republic.

"You have to realize," the Dean of our Journalism department told me, "this fellowship goes to kids from Harvard, Stanford, USC ... not kids from here. Don't waste your time applying."

I was at the University of St. Thomas, a small school based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

As he prattled on, telling me all the reasons why I couldn't or wouldn't have a shot to win that fellowship, I decided to prove him wrong.

I walked out of his office, put together my application without his help and mailed it in.

And, sure enough, the kids who received that prestigious fellowship in 1997 were from Harvard, Stanford, USC ... and the University of St. Thomas.

When I showed up in Phoenix that summer, my classmates thought I would be from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands ... that's how obscure my little Minnesota college was.

The Real Secret to Success

“Remember: People who tell you it cannot be done almost always are unsuccessful people, are strictly average or mediocre at best in terms of accomplishment," says David Schwartz in his book The Magic of Thinking Big.

"The opinions of these people can be poison. Develop a defense against people who want to convince you that you can’t do it. Accept negative advice only as a challenge to prove that you can do it.”

The real secret to success is ignoring those who tell you something cannot be done.

For example, there are lots of "experts" out there who say you can't replicate the authenticity, connection and camaraderie of a face-to-face engagement online.

They're wrong.

Remember, plenty of people are going to tell you what you CANNOT achieve with your business or life.

If you want to be successful, you must surround yourself with people who believe in you and what you CAN accomplish - no matter how big or audacious your dreams are!