You’re Going to Get Rejected… A Lot.
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Career Tip:
You’re Going to Get Rejected… A Lot. I’ve made a career out of getting rejected. In sales, I get told “No” on a daily basis. “No, I won’t meet with you.” “No, we don’t want your product.” And even as I’ve climbed in my career I’ve been rejected from 95% of the roles I’ve gone for. I was told “No” for 6 months out of college when I was jobless. I was told “No” by three different managers when I tried to go for my first internal promotion. And when I wanted to leave financial sales for tech, I encountered 8 months of “No” from the likes of BuzzFeed, Yext, Meta Co. and Pandora (and many more).
But you know what? I’m still standing. I’m still inching forward. And with each rejection I’m learning. I’m shifting my approach and becoming more resilient. While it’s easy to get told “Yes” all the time, it’s in these moments of “No” that we grow the most. We learn about ourselves and how we can be better. We learn to be mentally strong… which will pay dividends in the long run. (Here’s an article from Inc. that will help you deal with rejection).
Lifestyle Design Hack:
Joy. Money. Flow. Model by Chris Guillebeau. Feel like your career isn’t letting you live to your full potential? I recently read Chris Guillebeau’sbook Born For This where he shares practical tips on how to redirect your career to find the work you’re meant to do. My favorite lesson from the book is Chris’ “Joy. Money. Flow.” Model where he shows you that it is possible to hit the career lottery. The key, he explains, is to find a job that makes you happy, incorporates your top skills AND gives you financial success. Check out this article to complete this exercise and become clearer on the work that’s meant for you. Full disclosure: I’m still working through these types of exercises as I shape my own career.
Side Hustle Hack:
It’s Never Going to Be Perfect. When I started this blog two years ago I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to register for a domain name, how to create a website, or anything about online marketing. I was embarrassed by the first handful of blog posts I put up. I was upset when no one read them and then horrified when people did. Was I any good? Were people laughing at me behind my back? Why did I start this thing at all?
But what I told myself then and what I continue to tell myself now is that what you create is never going to be perfect. You’re not going to be as good as your favorite blogger when you’re starting out. And, most likely, you’ll never be good enough for your own standards. The key is to start regardless of the quality of your work. Set a deadline for yourself and then put something out there and see how people respond. It’ll feel like a big jump for you as you shift from a consumer to a creator, but it’s one that comes with countless rewards and limitless potential. Are you ready for your jump?
Book to Check Out:
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I picked this book off my parent’s shelf when I was home for the holidays and it’s far exceeded my expectations. In it, Charles Duhigg takes his readers on a journey to discover why habits exist and how they can be changed. In each chapter he carefully weaves in remarkable stories to explore the impact that habits can have on everything from a person’s life to the success of an entire corporation. You’ll go from an NFL locker room to a Fortune 500 boardroom to Alcoholics Anonymous. Want to learn how habits can be instilled in your to make you or your company more successful? This bookis a MUST READ.
Quote of the Week:
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” – Plato
