How to convert a strict “No” into a courageous “Yes”?

Being rejected leads basically to just two options – either accept it and move on or appeal the rejection and try again. One step backward, one could also think about how to reduce probability of a denial.

In her career experience, Sofya Kovalevskaya faced all the alternatives. As it works for many of us, she mastered solutions step-by-step, allowing her experience and inner tenacity to take the lead. Below we settle challenging no’s in Sofya's life chronologically and try to find out if any of the strategies she applied in the second half of the 19^th century can be useful today.