Yesterday was a fine day, a really great day, at least,
the start of it. As is my usual routine, I started the
morning writing, then making phone calls. Next, I
checked email. There were many-- several from readers
of my books. Some took the time to express thanks and
wanted to know what other books I had written. They
spoke of life-changing insights; they thanked me for
providing them the opportunity to read my works. They
wanted more. I felt good, really good.
It got better. By lunchtime, there were a number of
orders for my "PowerPause" system. The ordering system
worked perfectly; I was hearing from excited affiliates
who were delighted. The positive feedback on my products
was encouraging and rewarding. I leaned back in my
chair and smiled. Yes, things were working; life was
good.
And then it happened. I checked my email once more
before quitting for the day. There, buried among all
the wonderful notes was a short email from someone who
had purchased a "PowerPause" kit the week before. It
said something to the effect that he wanted a refund
and wanted it right away. "Your 'PowerPause' is not for
me," he continued. "It did nothing for me. I know all
the things you talked about. I've read them before and
am way beyond such simple stuff. Just give me back my
money."
I stared in disbelief at the email on the monitor. I
printed it out and read it again. A sad feeling came
over me. All kinds of thoughts flowed through my mind.
For a moment, I thought, how could he NOT like my
product? After all, thousands of people have benefited
from it. Why couldn't he understand? Did he need to be
so insulting? Look what he did; just look what he did
to me.
Had this been a few years ago, the next few hours would
have been quite unpleasant. I would have just focused
on this one, unfortunate event. I would have ruined my
entire evening by allowing thoughts of rejection to
possess me. Rejection, at any level, is unpleasant.
But I have learned over the years that events of this
nature were not a rejection of who I am and what I do.
That customer really didn't do anything to me. He just
did what he did because it was his nature to do so. He
had every right to do what he did. Didn't I offer an
unconditional guarantee? Didn't I specifically state,
on my website, that if someone didn't find the
"PowerPause" useful, I'd refund the money, no questions
asked? Why should I be upset if one person took
advantage of my offer?
In business, as in other areas of our lives, we
oftentimes face rejection. It becomes much easier to
deal with if we remember that we are not rejected
because of who we are but because of who the other
person is. If we understand this, and if we do not
personalize it, life would be much calmer, more
peaceful and certainly more productive.
Author, Richard Bach had already written a number of
books when he sent his new manuscript to a major
publisher. It was promptly rejected with a note
attached as to its quality. But he kept on keeping on,
and seventeen or eighteen rejections later, his
manuscript was finally accepted by Macmillan. It was
Richard's positive way of looking at life that made him
keep on. I am sure that rejection bothered him a bit.
But the publication of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"
resulted in Richard Bach gracing the cover of Time
magazine. And from what I've heard, his meaningful
books have touched the hearts of millions of readers.
Yes, rejection is tough. It doesn't matter whether the
rejection comes from a customer, a business
associate, a friend, husband, wife, lover, customer or
a total stranger, it still hurts. If we possess any
sensitivity at all, it's natural for us to feel bad.
The trick is not to mind too much, not to focus all our
energy and time on saying, "Look what they did, just
look what they did to me."
Just remember, there's no one else on earth with your
talents and your abilities. No one else can do what you
do. You are unique, a special person-- someone whose
hopes and dreams span eternity itself. Don't let
rejection bring you down. Just interpret it slightly
differently from the way you're accustomed to and
you'll find that your journey through life becomes much
more pleasant.
