Don't Be Troubled. Your Success Is Near
Rejections are part of everyday life
In 2017, I was vacationing in Melbourne when I received a rejection letter. It was around the university holidays, and I thought to wind down for a few days in the popular city.
I was having fun in the cold Melbourne winter when I received a rejection note. The rejection was for a research opportunity I had applied for. I wanted to complete a research project during my postgraduate degree at the University of Queensland to enhance my research skills.
Unfortunately, I got rejected for this great opportunity despite being initially accepted.
So what did I do?
The initial reaction
Of course, I felt terrible and rejected.
I wanted to cut the holiday short and return home ASAP to plan towards the next steps. On second thought, I thought that would be a terrible idea. I was in Mel for the holidays, so cancelling the holidays would be unwise, having invested money and time in the trip.
Besides, I was already there anyway, so I could as well relax and enjoy my holidays.
Anyway, I chose the latter option to enjoy my holidays before returning home.
I am glad I did. I got fresh ideas, which lightened up my next move.
Best decision ever.
Why this story?
Rejection and failures are almost normal in everyday life.
It’s hard to do without them completely. If you rely on approvals from others to advance your career and life, you can expect to receive some unpleasant news occasionally. That’s life for you. Nothing you can do about it. You can’t always win.
Don’t let the outcome trouble you.
Remember, the unpleasant news isn’t all that matters. A rejection is not a total failure on your part.
A rejection doesn’t also mean you are inadequate. It means you can do better. So never assume you are the culprit here; don’t make yourself the culprit.
Instead, focus on the feedback and use it to get better and improve next time. That’s all that truly matters.
Keep moving
I finally returned home and worked towards fresh ideas and next steps immediately. I looked for similar opportunities and started applying.
In the end, this new idea not only turned out successful, the opportunity was also instrumental in winning a top award from the Australian government.
Imagine I hadn’t taken positive steps since receiving the rejection note. I would have missed out on this big opportunity.
So, what does this mean for you?
Rejections are normal. Get used to them. When you receive a rejection note, don’t focus on the failures; instead, focus on the feedback and use this to improve on the next one.
That’s how you win.
Life will occasionally throw stones at you. Don’t give up easily.
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Banji Alo
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