Inspiring Lessons From Scandal Writer Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes has made an important name for herself in the world of television. She is the writer and producer of several beloved television shows, such as Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Scandal. She has also been recognized for bringing together some of the most diverse groups of actors, ever, on the small screen, and we love her for that!

Being a creative like Shonda requires listening to your gut and trusting your instincts, and that is one thing we all really need to learn from her.

Take your inspiration seriously

Had she not taken her inspiration seriously when it came to her, we would never have been introduced to Meredith Gray and Derek Shepherd. Thursday nights would look very different. More importantly Rhimes’ other two shows likely wouldn’t have been made and she might not be recognized as the wonderful writers and producer that she is.  

Before Grey’s Anatomy,  Shonda wrote screenplays for feature films. She found success with movies, such as Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and Crossroads, but her big break came at an unexpected moment.

Shonda began watching a little more TV than usual while taking a break from work when she became a new mother in 2002. She began thinking about what it would be like to write a weekly TV series rather than a two-hour feature film. It would allow for more character and plot development and that sounded exciting.

Take your ideas seriously

Rather than brushing off these ideas, Shonda took them seriously. First, she wrote a series about a group of war correspondents. Unfortunately, this show didn’t take off, but it put her contact with the right people who mentioned they were looking for a medical drama. This sparked her idea for Grey’s Anatomy, which aired in 2005 and ended up, as we all know, being a major hit.

I think we can clearly take another lesson from this story as well. Not only is it important to trust yourself and follow your instincts, it is also important not to give up on them. Success doesn’t always come easy. It requires hard work. Trust your gut and it will more often than not lead you down the right path.

If you need more inspiring women why not check out Tanya Burr or Tara Mohr’s 10 rules for brilliant women. 

By Lindy Callahan

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Featured Photo Courtesy of Elle.com