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Are you afraid of rejection? If that’s the case, you have not been an entrepreneur lengthy sufficient, otherwise you would possibly contemplate not being an entrepreneur in any respect.
It is powerful to learn that, is not it?
We have all heard the cliche saying, “When one door closes, one other door opens.” Spoiler alert: it is a cliche as a result of it is true. Rejection is a wholesome piece of the success puzzle β I did not at all times understand that.
My skilled background is in actual property brokerage. I entered the trade as an ignorant 21-year-old faculty scholar. I used to be fearless, naive, and pushed by one factor: getting cash. I used to be a 6’5″ bull in a china store that had been launched into the streets of Dallas.
The playbook for achievement as a brand new actual property agent is one thing out of a film.
- Chilly name
- Introduce your self to everybody
Straightforward sufficient.
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I had already discovered the worth of onerous work and dedication within the multitude of jobs that I had rising up. Whether or not or not it’s honing my gross sales expertise working at a film retailer (sure, I labored on the iconic institution, Blockbuster) or solidifying my customer support expertise at Pappadeaux’s restaurant (for me, it was a bonus due to the proximity to free meals), all of those experiences taught me the worth of onerous work. I’d be a pure at chilly calling, proper?
So I assumed.
Flash ahead to my first day on the job; the quantity of rejection I confronted was comical. I used to be sporting my ‘Wolf of Wall Avenue’ headset, calling what I assumed have been “prospects.” Boy, rapidly discovered how folks love to hold up the cellphone when an actual property agent calls them!
For the subsequent 27 months, I felt like an actor making an attempt to catch my massive break. I referred to as each “For Sale By Proprietor,” each expired itemizing, and each canceled itemizing, and I handed out extra enterprise playing cards than samples that Costco arms out on a Sunday.
I used to be exhausted, crushed down, and, after all, broke. I rapidly realized my pores and skin was callusing at a tempo that was one thing out of the sequel to Benjamin Button.
After which, out of nowhere, one thing occurred that scared me.
“YES.”
What? A sure? I’ve by no means had a sure earlier than. What does that imply? How do I deal with this???
I used to be so comfy with receiving “no’s” that receiving that “sure” caught me off guard. Rejection had turn into my regular. A giant fats no felt homey to me, however a “sure?” Boy, I wasn’t positive the place to take that.
At that second, I spotted that each one my “no’s” had led me to the right “sure.” I spotted that each one these hours of rejected calls and doorways closing in my face (actually) have been main me towards one thing larger. Nearly as if the yellow brick street is definitely supposed to guide you to…Oz?
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As a salesman, I’ve by no means been too proud to choose up crumbs, do grunt work or do the work that others assume I am too good for. I generally ask myself, what if I had give up after my one hundredth “no?”
I fought by no means to let the worry of rejection cease me. I turned fueled by it. I’m nonetheless fueled by it. I spotted I wished to assist others really feel fueled by it, too.
As a enterprise proprietor, I discover it irritating to not see somebody maximize their potential. Sadly, the worry of being turned down usually beats the will to win massive. I’ve seen this all through my whole life, and I’ve seen it each day as somebody who invests in folks for a residing.
After investing in over 100 firms and listening to extra pitches than I can rely, I proceed to see and imagine within the energy of “no.” I’ll by no means give up the time I dedicate to giving entrepreneurs and enterprise house owners trustworthy (and respectful) suggestions. I make it a precedence to personally reply to each single pitch that reaches my desk. Why? The reply is straightforward.
A number of the biggest success tales are those that began with rejection.
Give it some thought:
Micheal Jordan? He was instructed he wasn’t ok for his highschool basketball group.
Walt Disney? Informed his creativeness wasn’t sufficiently big.
Steven Speilberg? Rejected from movie faculty a number of instances.
Jamie Siminoff? Left Shark Tank with no deal.
Melanie Perkins? Rejected by over 100 Enterprise Capital corporations.
Rogers Healy? He went 27 months with out his first actual property closing. After he cashed his first fee verify, he went to Greatest Purchase and spent all of it on DVDs (true story).
You get the gist. Rejection is just the start of the story. Each nice entrepreneur learns what “no” really means β one thing nice is on the horizon.
So my recommendation is at all times the identical: refine your method, strengthen your storytelling, know your “why,” be daring, and do not give up. Please, please, please Don’t give up!!
I ask once more: Are you afraid of rejection? You should not be. On the earth of entrepreneurship, amassing “no’s” is not simply part of the job β it is the important thing to success, and it is the important thing to creating the wins really feel that a lot better.
