“Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept it at this time…” Fear of rejection is one of the biggest things holding us back in today’s society. The same is true for rejection in the photography world. Putting ourselves out there as an artist is terrifying, and understandably so because showing off your art can make you feel incredibly vulnerable. As a business owner & photographer, I’ve had to deal with rejection on multiple occasions, such as clients not liking their images, or magazines rejecting my submissions. Believe me, I try to handle it with grace… I really do. But unfortunately I don’t have the thick skin that seems to come naturally to some business owners. So after I wipe away my tears and pick up my wounded pride, I try to change my perspective. Don’t Take it Personally. Now I find it absurd that people tell you not to take rejection “personally”. Your business & art work becomes your baby... its an extensions of you. And if anyone rejected my baby, my inner mama bear would want to emerge and tear them to shreds. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable behaviour in the business world, so you need to focus on more constructive methods of coping. I believe that the best thing to do is to actually expect rejection and know that it is practically a rite of passage for being successful. If you expect it to happen it will be much easier for you to accept it, learn from it and move on. Rejection is a Stepping Stone to Success. “I have missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I have missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan What do Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, Michael Jordan, Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein have in common? They’ve been hard core rejected and have survived. Oprah was fired as a news reporter because she was too emotionally attached to her stories. Walt Disney was told that he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas”. Steve Jobs was fired from his own company. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team and Einstein’s teachers through that he would never amount to anything and was expelled because he couldn’t speak until he was four or read until he was seven. My point is that everyone gets rejected. You can look at it as a loss and give up, or you can take it as a learning opportunity & push yourself to get better and better. Find more rejection-to-success stories HERE. Turn “No” Into “Yes”. Just because someone has told you “no”, doesn’t mean that you will never have the opportunity to turn their “no” into a “yes”. In fact, make it your goal! Learn why they rejected you in the first place and if it’s in the best interest of your business and your future, keep working on it until you can get them to change their mind. Keep sending new submissions to magazines & keep trying to create magical images & artwork to reveal to your clients. Can you imagine how great it would feel seeing your work published? Or see the happy teared face of a mother or new bride? {insert happy dance here} Check out 4 amazing tips on how to turn a “no” into a “yes” HERE! Use Rejection as Fuel. Someone has rejected you? Well prove them wrong! They’ve said that your business will never work? Make it work! They’ve told you that your ideas aren’t good enough? Well turn your ideas into the best darn things since sliced bread! Don’t let people’s negative opinion deter you from your dreams. Surround yourself with a positive support system (Even if it’s just yourself), and make it happen. Rejection should never be a road block, it should be the fuel that drives you forward. I realize that this is all easier said than done, but sometimes a change in perspective is all you need to make a difference in your outlook. We all start at the bottom and claw our way to the top. Just remember that you are not alone & that you are well on the path towards success. Lets learn from each other! What are your methods on dealing with rejection?
1 Comment
Jessica
3/31/2016 06:54:26 am
Such a heart touching blog! I can definitely relate! Thanks
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Paige CodyI love chi tea lattes, cats, wine & long walks on the beach. Stacey LaviI love my dog, laughing & meeting wonderful people!
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