How To Get Over Rejection

 What does the word 'no' mean to you? And how can you stop having such a negative connotation attached to it? 

A lot of freelancers instantly think that the word no is about them and attribute it to failure.

What does it mean to you?

When a client (or potential client) says no, what emotions does it bring up for you?

Inferiority?

Rejection?

When you allow yourself to get uncomfortable and understand what no means to you, it allows you to reframe it.

The reframe

When a client or potential client says no, it's actually a reflection of their perception of the world. They might have money mindset issues. They might have success issues. They might have an inferiority complex or fear of failure, fear of success. 

That 'no' is a reflection of their own perception of value, their worth or the world.

'No' actually it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.

So if you can just understand that when they say no, it's just feedback. And what you choose to do with that feedback - whether you take it personally, or you think about how that is a reflection of the client - that's a choice that you make. Reframing the word no is a powerful place to come from when you are growing and scaling your freelance business. 

Seeing opportunities

Sometimes the no is actually a doorway to something bigger and better. Instead of considering that no is a representation of your worth and your value, consider what opportunities it opens up instead. By somebody saying no, because they don't want to work with you, what does that mean you're able to say yes to? It could open up opportunities to work with better, bigger, more successful, more positive clients.

Use it to look positively to the future, and take a more empowering mindset to drive forward and move on to the next thing.

Permission to say no

It’s also important to give yourself permission to say no too. Whether you’re on a discovery call with a potential client and something just doesn't seem right, trust that intuition that you have. Even if everything looks OK on paper, bad clients do exist. I've had my fair share of them and I've seen others experience them too. 

 So if there are red flags and something just doesn't feel right, give yourself permission to say no and allow that client to move on. It’s OK to be selective and to say no to non ideal clients.

For example, if you get approached by somebody who is not in your niche and who's desperate to work with you, but it’s not going to help you get closer to your meaning of success, it’s OK to say no. 

 Remember this:

Saying no really could mean saying yes to something bigger and better. Reframing the word no, whether it’s from you or from a client, is extremely important to help with your confidence, with your mindset and how you grow your business that actually brings you joy.