Rejection: A Brief History
Let’s be honest. No one likes that word.
Personally, I have slowly learnt to not mind it. (Once upon a time that didn’t used to be the case don’t worry). Fear used to take over before even sending an email that it felt easier just to not send it, just in case that god forbid, two letter word came back declining my offer, work or service. Crazy what our bodies do to protect every inch of us from feeling that awful word ‘no''. But now, I’m an email firing queen and if a reply comes back with a not this time, I’m able to smile and move onto the next. I’ve learnt that I don’t need to take things so personally and from experience, there’s always something better waiting just around the corner.
So why is rejection good?
I heard something once that makes me smile everytime I now hear the word no. NO = Next opportunity. And it’s true!
Which brings me onto my list.
Exhibit A:
I got rejected from Not on the High Street, not once, but three times. They believed my work was too similar to what they were already offering. Offended? Slightly.. however that lead me onto finding other online marketplaces such as Joules who were actually a lot more in line with my values and played a pivotal part in getting Little Roglets off the ground.
Granted hindsight is a wonderful thing and the first time I applied for Not on The High Street I only had about 4 products - I’d only just started out and thought I’d give it a try. Saying that, I truly believe in what’s meant for you will find you, so my products just clearly weren’t meant for NOTH!
Exhibit B:
I also got rejected, (strangely as I pulled up in their car park for a completely unrelated reason) from John Lewis the first time I applied there too. I looked at the email with that familiar sinking feeling but accepted okay not meant to be and pretty much forgot about it.
I then got an email the next day saying I’d been accepted. So whether that was a glitch who knows, but yay! (You can read the write up for that event by clicking here).
Exhibit C:
Me: Emails shop - ‘‘Would you be interested in stocking some of my products in your beautiful shop?’’
Shop: ‘‘No.’
Honestly, I’ve had answers that blunt before. No explanation, nothing other than a big fat no.
I’m probably well into the 50’s of no’s from shops. As well as been ghosted more times than I can recall. But it gets easier! And you just have to keep on going. And I did. For the 50 no’s I got.. I got 50 yes’s as Little Roglets is now in over 50 shops at the time that I write this post.
I mean rejection is never nice but if you can look at it as a detour, just pointing you in the right direction or as the next opportunity, then trust me it won’t feel so bad!
Lex xx