Dealing with Rejection: Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re self-employed, be proud of who you are, even in the face of rejection

How you handle rejection plays a key role in your success as a self-employable — let me explain.

I’ve been self-employed full-time for just over four years — and I love it. Outside of being a dad and dog dad, being self-employed drives me to be the best I can be. But like any job, being self-employed is challenging. One of the biggest challenges I face: convincing prospects to work with me.

I’m an awesome writer and editor. At the same time, there are thousands of other self-employables who also feel like they are awesome writers and editors. So, I’m forced to find ways to differentiate myself from rivals — otherwise, I risk missing out on opportunities to earn money and grow my brand.

To stand out from the competition, I am ultra-responsive. I maintain constant contact with clients and respond to their concerns, requests and questions as quickly as possible. Additionally, I go above and beyond the call of duty in all jobs I complete — because why settle for average when exceptional is an option?

Yet no matter how hard I try to prove myself, rejection is constant, especially when it comes to attracting new clients. Even if I feel qualified for a job, a prospect has to feel the same way. Because if a working relationship does not meet the needs of all parties involved, no one wins.

So, here’s my recommendation: accept rejection for what it is and move past it. If you apply for a job but get rejected, hold your head up high. Remember, you cannot control when you are rejected, but you can control how you respond to rejection. At the end of the day, do you want to be the self-employable who rises above rejection or succumbs to it? For me, I choose the former. 🙂