#INSPIRATIONLEADER

INSPIRATION LEADER - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is a name known all around the world. Whether you are a fan of the series or not, it is hard not to admire the journey and success of the book’s author.

J.K. Rowling. has an incredible rags to riches story that leaves people of all ages inspired to follow their dreams and not to give up when life gets tough.

Although she has been named one of the most powerful celebrities by Forbes, Rowling’s story has a rough beginning. The few years after college proved to be particularly difficult for her. Her marriage had failed and she was left alone to raise her daughter with no steady job. The stress of all of this led Rowling to suffer from clinical depression and even contemplate suicide, something she has been very open with. She and her daughter Jessica depended on state funds and lived in a cramped apartment.
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Being unemployed gave Rowling an abundance of free time. During this time, she began to write what would be known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in coffee houses with baby Jessica sleeping in the stroller.

This idea of a story about a young wizard came to be while Rowling traveled on a train. It took a long time for a publisher to pick up the book and once a company finally did, she had to create the pen name  J.K. to help attract readers.

She took the J from her first name, Joanne, and K stood for Kathleen, which was her grandmother’s name. This book’s targeted demographic was young boys and they were not attracted to books written by women.

The book quickly became a success and led to numerous opportunities for Rowling. She would go on to write a series made up of seven books that would later turn into movies.

It is hard to wrap your head around just how successful this franchise has become and how drastically it changed Rowling’s life. Harry Potter has sold 400 million copies worldwide. The books have earned Rowling quite an astounding amount of success.

In 2007, she was the runner-up for Person of the Year by Time magazine. As of today, she is said to have a fortune of $95 million and is predicted to soon become a billionaire.  

Rowling continues to inspire others outside of her writing. She is very vocal with her political views and encourages others to get involved. Philanthropy is a very important part of her life as well.

​She enjoys using her fame to bring attention to different issues, and is happy to donate to causes she is passionate about. Currently, Rowling is involved with organizations that work with causes such as poverty, multiple sclerosis, and reading programs.
It is incredible to look at Rowling’s journey and see just how far she has come. She went from depending on state funds to being one of the richest women in the world - all because of a story idea she got while on a train.

It is inspiring to see how she overcame her obstacles and found success all on her own. In today’s society, it is rare to find people who are so humble with so much success. J.K Rowling perfectly defines what a #Girlboss is because she radiates dedication in turning her passion into an empire, while finding the time to encourage and support those struggling around her.

Written By: Hannah Harger 
Brand Girls Client + BG Blog Intern 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hharger/

Article:
http://fullylived.com/j-k-rowlings-zero-to-hero-story/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling#Philanthropy
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-rags-to-riches-story-of-jk-rowling-2015-5
http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/jk_rowling/
https://www.forbes.com/profile/jk-rowling/
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-journey-of-jkrowling-and-her-harry-p-2011-12
Pictures:
http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/jk-rowling/260346/what-else-has-jk-rowling-written-besides-harry-potter
https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-K-Rowling
​http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/fashion/jewellery-watches/news/a8652/j-k-rowling-on-the-power-of-charm-bracelets/