When “NO” is just the start
As a solopreneur, I have had to learn how to redirect rejection. A case study.
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Rejection stings, whether a polite one or being ghosted or being told off.
If you’re being ghosted, wear it on the chin and move on. Don’t burn a relationship because you couldn’t read the tea leaves of rejection.
But being told an unequivocal “no” is priceless. Here’s why…and the reasons are counterintuitive.
1. Every NO brings your actual target demo into clearer focus.
You presumably reached out to someone to pitch your product for good reason — either they seemed like they could use your product OR even something egotistical like “if they asked me to FOLLOW their page, they should return the favour by listening to my pitch.”
Hearing a “no” should tell you whether your assumptions about them needing your product were valid.
Or maybe they don’t believe in reciprocity the same way you do.
Regardless, you have learnt something about the world by being rejected.
2. A NO is usually accompanied by a reason. Use it.
You can use it in two ways
— passively to refine your messaging and targeting for your next customer
— actively, by responding with a well thought out clarification explaining why they may have missed a nuance about your product when they rejected you.
An Example
Say someone offers you a physical newspaper subscription. You are in your thirties, single, a digital native. Definitely too hip to read a newspaper!
Your immediate response is
Hell no! Who wants to clutter their house and then have to figure out ways to dispose of the accumulated newspapers? Plus, I get my breaking news on X, no subscription required!!!
How can one salvage this conversation? Can one salvage this conversation?
