Rejection

We have been thoroughly prepared, we did our homework, we found and proved that our solution, our product, is the best our customer can buy. We presented it skillfully and we were sure for the end result.  “Done deal” we said to ourselves.

Then the costumer turns around and rejects our proposal.

We feel in our skin the rejection, down to our feet. It is us, for sure. No doubt! He couldn’t reject such a proposal, so he must have rejected us!

But, wait a minute, what rejection really means?

If a person discovers a 200-carat white diamond in the earth but, due to ignorance, believes it to be worthless, and tosses it aside, does this tell us more about the diamond or the person?

Along the same line, when someone rejects another person, it reveals a lot more about the rejecter than the rejected. All we are really seeing is the, often shortsighted, opinion of one person.

A couple of examples to consider:

If J.K. Rowling stopped after being rejected by multiple publishers for years, there would be no Harry Potter. Who lost?

If Howard Schults gave up after being turned down by banks 200 plus times, there would be no Starbucks. Who lost?

One thing is for sure. If you give too much power to the opinions of the others, you will become their prisoner. Never let someone’s opinion alter your reality. Never sacrifice who you are, or who you aspire to be, just because someone else has a problem with it. Keep on moving forward, keep on trying.

The customer, who will benefit the most from you and what you have to offer, is round the next corner, the next turn, the next sales call. Never give up. Never. Just remember to ask yourself each time:  Rejection? Who really lost after all?