Even though I kept getting turned down, every month, we were making progress
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:20 am
The upside to rejection
Rejection may trigger unpleasant pain sensors, but ultimately, the experience can be beneficial if you can learn to see the bright side, or turn it into a powerful motivator.
1. Reaffirm your goals: Are you still as passionate about your idea after repeated rejections from investors? Are you pushing forward with building your business, even though you’ve yet to make a sale? Your answer will help you decide, Michael says, if you should stay on track or switch gears:
“If you walk away just because you’re rejected, maybe you really don’t want it that bad. Either you’re going to decide the outcome of your life or somebody else will. If you’re willing to let somebody else make the decision for you after two or three or four no’s (which is not really a big deal) you either don’t want it that bad or it’s not the right thing for you.”
2. Appreciate the wins (no matter how small): In On Writing, Stephen King explains that before publishing his breakout novel, his manuscripts were the victim of rejection after rejection, while his family was toeing the poverty line. Small wins―short stories fetching a few dollars from magazines—had a big impact in comparison, and encouraged him to keep writing.
“If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed namibia phone data the check and it didn’t bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.” ― Stephen King
Hardship similarly allowed Michael to see the thin silver lining that was the slow growth of Kit:
“Even though I kept getting turned down, every month, we were making progress. I was selling my car, maxing out my credit cards, taking loans from family, my wife was working two jobs, I was selling clothing, I was doing whatever it took. But my business was growing.”
3. Stay sharp: Complacency breeds mediocrity. Rejection reminds us that we have room to grow, engages the competitive spirit, and, when harnessed, can provide motivation to persist.
“The ‘no factor’ is a motivation factor. Every day, you constantly have to prove yourself. You’re proving yourself to yourself―always remember that. The day you wake up, and you say, ‘Man, I’m already good on piano, I’m already good on guitar, I wrote 50 songs, I don’t need to write any more,’ that’s the day you’re finished… Whenever someone told me ‘no’, it was always a motivation for yes.” – Wyclef Jean, via The #AskGaryVee Podcast
Rejection may trigger unpleasant pain sensors, but ultimately, the experience can be beneficial if you can learn to see the bright side, or turn it into a powerful motivator.
1. Reaffirm your goals: Are you still as passionate about your idea after repeated rejections from investors? Are you pushing forward with building your business, even though you’ve yet to make a sale? Your answer will help you decide, Michael says, if you should stay on track or switch gears:
“If you walk away just because you’re rejected, maybe you really don’t want it that bad. Either you’re going to decide the outcome of your life or somebody else will. If you’re willing to let somebody else make the decision for you after two or three or four no’s (which is not really a big deal) you either don’t want it that bad or it’s not the right thing for you.”
2. Appreciate the wins (no matter how small): In On Writing, Stephen King explains that before publishing his breakout novel, his manuscripts were the victim of rejection after rejection, while his family was toeing the poverty line. Small wins―short stories fetching a few dollars from magazines—had a big impact in comparison, and encouraged him to keep writing.
“If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed namibia phone data the check and it didn’t bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.” ― Stephen King
Hardship similarly allowed Michael to see the thin silver lining that was the slow growth of Kit:
“Even though I kept getting turned down, every month, we were making progress. I was selling my car, maxing out my credit cards, taking loans from family, my wife was working two jobs, I was selling clothing, I was doing whatever it took. But my business was growing.”
3. Stay sharp: Complacency breeds mediocrity. Rejection reminds us that we have room to grow, engages the competitive spirit, and, when harnessed, can provide motivation to persist.
“The ‘no factor’ is a motivation factor. Every day, you constantly have to prove yourself. You’re proving yourself to yourself―always remember that. The day you wake up, and you say, ‘Man, I’m already good on piano, I’m already good on guitar, I wrote 50 songs, I don’t need to write any more,’ that’s the day you’re finished… Whenever someone told me ‘no’, it was always a motivation for yes.” – Wyclef Jean, via The #AskGaryVee Podcast