Appreciate The People Who Reject You

In the past three years, many people have been fired or demoted. Call it whatever you want (downsized, reengineered, rightsized, etc., etc.), the bottom-line is they were rejected. If they're not careful, this kind of rejection can be a devastating blow to their self-esteem. However, it can also be a critical turning point for the positive in their career. The choice, as always, is completely up to them. Being rejected provides a great opportunity for proving other people wrong.

Ten years ago this month, the most important moment in my eighteen-year career occurred. I was flat out rejected by three people whom I trusted and thought I knew well. They were Paul Owens, Dick Wehner and Art Zinselmeyer, the principal, athletic director and assistant principal at the school I taught at. For two years they had piled on the responsibilities, appointing me to assistant varsity soccer coach, student council moderator, teacher in the math department, teacher of a course on leadership and advisor to many of the students. I assumed they respected my work. However, when I interviewed for the head coaching position I came to find out that they thought I was far too naïve and irresponsible to be able to coach a high school soccer team. While I was devastated for about a month, I came to see this as the most important thing that could have ever happened to me. I saw it as my chance to prove myself. I could never have predicted what was to unfold over the next ten years, but the reality has far exceeded my dreams at that moment. The key was that I constantly focused on my strengths and not my weaknesses, I constantly worked to enrich my mind and my skills, and I constantly maintained faith that I could add value to other people. So from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you to Paul, Dick and Art for rejecting me and not believing in me. You did more for me than you will ever know!

Is there anyone in your life who rejected you whom you would now like to thank?

Rather than getting angry and frustrated with the people who reject you, get down on your knees and be thankful. They did a great deal to accelerate your career. The next time someone rejects you, look him or her right in the eye and think to yourself, "Thank you. I really appreciate what you have just done for me."

Recommended Resource: The Greatest Miracle In The World by Og Mandino

Republishing Articles

Each month my e-newsletter gets republished in approximately 20 blogs, on-line publications, and internal publications for businesses, universities, and not-for-profit organizations. If you would like to republish all or part of my monthly articles, please send me an e-mail at dan@thecoughlincompany.com with "Republishing Article" in the subject heading. I will send you the article in a word document. All I ask is that you include my name as the author of the article and a short paragraph at the end of the article about me with a link to my website.

Take care and have a great month!

Dan Coughlin

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