Whatever business you’re in, no matter what your personal circumstances, there will always be times when you’re turned down. You can anticipate it, or it can hit you unexpectedly. Either way, it hurts.
The only way to ensure you’re never rejected in business is to refuse to stray from your comfort zone…and run the risk of losing all opportunities to develop or improve.
As a writer, I accept that rejection is part of the job but try not to expect it. Writers are often heard to say they could paper a wall with rejection letters; I could possibly cover most of the house! People may, or may not, agree with, or like, what I write and sometimes, when you put yourself out there, the public let you know what they think. That can be brilliant, or it can hurt and so I have found ways to deal with this.
Here are my five strategies on how to deal with rejection in business:
Never take it personally. It happens to everyone at some time or other. Richard Branson received many, many rejections and failures when he started out, and it hasn’t done him too much harm. In fact, most successful people have had refusals/failures and perhaps their success is down to accepting rejection, looking at how it can help them develop and moving on. Successful entrepreneurs do not get discouraged by the word no;
Look on it as a tribute to your innovation. Constant success could mean you aren’t trying something different, you’re stuck in a rut;
Rejection can be fair, perhaps you do need to change or adapt. If you can, ask what didn’t work for them and listen carefully to the response. Writers very rarely have the opportunity to do this but, occasionally, an editor has given some feedback and I have listened, looked to see how I can improve and used it as an opportunity to develop and make progress;
Do not allow yourself to despair. Believe in yourself, even if it feels as if no one else does. Refuse to consider negative, ‘I can’t’ thoughts, push yourself to think, ‘I can’ and ‘I will’. People say no for a variety of reasons and one person’s opinion, or one rejection, is not a universal damnation of you or your idea, business or design;
If you find all the above too difficult at first, then allow yourself a short wallow; eat a cream cake, have a glass of wine or a bar of chocolate. Then, stand tall, take a deep breath and plan how to move on.
About the Author:
Mary Waters is a writer based in Calne, Wiltshire. She has had short stories, poems and articles published and her kindle book, 'Mouse', is available on here!
