There are some people in life that no matter what obstacles they come up against they will find a way over or even around them.
Collette Divitto was born in 1990 with Down syndrome. When she left college and started looking for a job she hoped that a move to Boston combined with her passion for baking would help in the search but she had no idea how tough it was going to be.
She was turned down from over 15 jobs so the now 30-year-old decided she would start her own business and become her own boss.
“When we moved to Boston from my hometown of Connecticut, I applied for lots of jobs, including office jobs and part-time jobs working with kids,” Collette says as per the Metro newspaper.
“I had interviews which I always thought went well, but after a few days I would receive an email saying something along the line of not being the right fit for the company.
“It was very frustrating for me, I was really upset, especially after it happened more than 15 times. I didn’t want to just sit at home and feel bad about not being able to work. So I decided enough is enough and that I was going to do what I enjoy and make it into a business.”
Colette launched a cookie baking business and today employs 15 people even coming up with her own cinnamon chocolate chip cookie called the “The Amazing Cookie.”
Since the launch of her business she has sold more than one million cookies and gets around 300 orders a week but she admits the road to success has not been easy.
This amazing entrepreneur has attended classes on how to start a business, set up a website, made business cards and learned to write invoices.
As manager of her business Collettey’s Cookies which ships all over the U.S. and Canada, she now makes it her mission to create job opportunities for people with disabilities.
“I was not only determined to show everyone how capable people with (dis)abilities are, but my mission is to open production facilities across the country and employ thousands of (dis)abled people! ONLY 17.5% people with disabilities were employed in 2015.
“I want to inspire others who also have disabilities to follow their dreams. My advice is to focus on your abilities rather than your disabilities.
“My top tips for success are to work hard, be respectful of everyone, and never give up on your dreams.”
And for those suffering the same rejection that she experienced, she said: “Don’t let people get you down, and never give up. If you find a road block, then find another road,” as per medium.com.
What an amazing young woman Collette is, she is an inspiration to us all.
I hope you go from strength to strength Collette!
Please share her success story with all your friends and family today.
