J. Michael Prince, now the CEO of U.S. Polo Assn. running a $2.7 billion brand and hosting polo events with Prince William, almost missed his shot at leadership entirely. In 2005, when the CFO role opened up at Converse—which had just been acquired by Nike—Prince had only been on the payroll for about six months. The company made it clear he wasn't in the running.
According to Fortune, the company told him directly: "You're not our person, you've been at Nike for six months… you're not really one of us, and we're going to pull someone from the inside that's been with us for a long time."
How Prince Turned Rejection Into a Six-Month Sprint
Instead of feeling rejected, Prince treated the situation as a deadline to prove them wrong. He decided to outwork anyone else who wanted the job for six straight months. He didn't just wait for the company to find their preferred candidate—he actively showed them what he could do.
As Fortune reports, Prince's approach was simple: he worked harder than everyone else who wanted the role. He didn't let the initial rejection stop him. Instead, he used it as motivation to demonstrate his value to the company.
From Converse to Leading a $2.7 Billion Empire
Prince's persistence paid off. He eventually got the CFO role at Converse, and that experience set the stage for his current position as CEO of U.S. Polo Assn. Today, he runs a $2.7 billion brand and hosts polo events with Prince William.
His story is a reminder that being told "no" doesn't have to be the end of the road. In Prince's case, it was just the beginning of a six-month effort that changed his career trajectory.
Our Take: Why Prince's Story Matters for Anyone Facing Rejection
Prince's approach is worth noting because it's a practical lesson in resilience. He didn't argue with his bosses or complain about being overlooked. He simply outworked everyone else. In our view, that's the kind of response that separates people who succeed from those who stay stuck. The message is clear: if you want something badly enough, show it through your actions—not your words.
