Learning to Live with Rejection in the Small Business World

I still remember my mom's advice to me on girls in high school to help get me used to dating and rejection. She said, "Ask out a few girls you really don't like that much so that if they say no, it's not a big deal. If they say yes, then you can have some fun in a more 'friend' type atmosphere, and get some dating practice in a low pressure environment before you ask a girl who you really like."

It's funny, but when I applied that reasoning, I found that it actually worked pretty well and was an interesting way to prepare a teen for rejection, because let's face it, we all face rejection at one point or another in our lives.

It's no different in the business world, and as a small business owner or entrepreneur you can come up against rejection on a regular basis. Here are some of the ways I tend to view rejection in my business of writing and that have helped me learn to live with it.

A Regular Occurrence

As a writer, rejection is just part of the job, and the sooner you get used to it, the better. There are a multitude of jobs and roles out there that incorporate some sort of regular rejection though, and the sooner one can accept and become accustomed to it, the easier it is to shrug it off and move along.

Now I'm not saying that taking on a defeatist attitude is what is necessary to make it in the small business world, just the opposite in fact, but as a realist, it's reasonable to assume that rejection is going to be a part of your life. Learning to live, deal and learn from this rejection can make your life easier and less stressful.

Rejection is Often a Learning Experience

People who receive constant praise and little constructive criticism about the way they work or perform their jobs may not do much to look for ways to improve their performance. While they might be at the top of their game at the moment, it's not likely to last forever.

Sometimes a little rejection is a good thing because it forces us to take an introspective look at ourselves, the way we do things, and the ways in which we could improve. In many cases, I've probably learned more from rejection because I have to look at myself, figure out why I was rejected and possibly make adjustments to my work or actions to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

Rejection is Easy, Acceptance is Hard

Have you ever felt relieved at rejection? I know I have. But that's because rejection is easy. It often means that you can stop trying and move on to something else. But it's when you are accepted that something starts getting hard and the battle really begins.

Sometimes it's good to be rejected, because it is an indication that you should move along to something new. Not everyone was cut out for the role they are in or want to be in, and rejection can be the way to know whether it's time to try our hand at something new where success might come easier.

Not Knowing Light Without Dark

Ever hear the saying, "You wouldn't see light without dark?" or "You wouldn't know good without evil?"

It can be much the same with rejection. A little rejection can make you appreciate acceptance so much more. Without the sour feeling of rejection, we wouldn't know the sweetness of success. So sometimes rejection is that necessary evil that makes us open our eyes and realize how lucky we are when our hard work and efforts are rewarded with acceptance by others.

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Disclaimer:

The author is not a licensed financial professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.