Can you become a skilled writer Yes and heres my story to prove it

Can you become a skilled writer Yes and heres my story to prove itCan you become a skilled writer Yes - and heres my story to prove itI was recently catching up with a mentor of mine the other day.He was my boss right out of college. I will never forget the first time I walked into that loft-style digital marketing agency, wearing a collared shirt, peeking my head in and saying, Im here for an interview?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreMy soon-to-be mentor and the head Copywriter, an older Indian guy, walked me into the back office?- ?a room with creative advertising campaign ideas and awards hung up on the walls, with carpeting that was bright green like freshly cut grass. Where awards werent hung, the rest of the walls were painted with Idea Paint, with cups of dry erase markers everywhere within reach.The interview lasted ten minutes. Maybefifteen.We cant hire this kid, the Indian guy said, right after Id walked out the door to head home. He doesnt have a portfolio. He doesnt have any experience in advertising.Telling me the story years later, my mentor said that nobody wanted to hire me. And if Im being perfectly honest, I wouldnt have hired me. But my mentor saw something in me I hadnt even recognized fully in myself.I was hungry to learn?- ?and I had a desire to be great.Over the past several years, Ive achieved just about every writing-related goal Ive set formyself.Ive had dozens of articles go viral, accumulating millions of views.Ive been invited to speak on massive podcasts and at major conferences about writing online.Ive seen my work in TIME, Forbes, Fortune, Business Insider, Inc Magazine, CNBC, The Chicago Tribune, and dozens of other major publications.Ive published a book,Confessions of a Teenage Gamer,and was able to do so independently and on my own terms.Ive published a variety of eBooks and built an audience of over 100,000 followers across Quora,Medium, andInstagram.Ive connected with some of my favorite (and fruchtwein successful) writers?- ?in a wide variety of industries.Ive ghostwritten for 100+ founders, CEOs, and industry experts.Ive founded a content marketing executive positioning agency, calledDigital Press, and grown it to 20+ employees in less than a year (alongside my co-founderDrew Reggie?- ?who is 50% of the reason why weve succeeded).But most of all, Ive turned the thing I love most in the world, writing, into more than just a career. This craft has become my lifestyle, and allowed me to do all the things that truly make me happy.If you ever doubt your own ability to become a skilled, successful writer (or skilled, successfulanything), just rememberthere was a point in time when I wasnt very skilled either.This article first appeared on TheAcscent.pub.