Rejection Ain't Easy...Is It?

Rejection can hurt. You show someone your presentation, or, heck, just invite them to take a look and they say, "No." But what you hear is (imagine a deep booming bass voice echoing) "NOOOOOO!"

Professionals aren't used to out-and-out rejection. I got used to my status--as a Harvard Law grad and a big firm lawyer--opening doors for me. When I became a network marketer, all of that went out the window. Instead, I was just "Monica Parker, Network Marketer."

And when people said "No" to my opportunity, it felt as if they were saying "No" to me. It felt as if I was being personally rejected, rather than my product. Ouch.

Does it have to be so painful?

Maybe not. It's actually a question of perspective.

Just think of your 3 closest friends. I'm betting they're all very different people. They probably have totally different perspectives about life.

That's exciting news. Why? Because it means you get to choose. You get to choose the perspective you want to have.

Let me offer a few perspective shifts for you to try on when you hear a "No:"

Perspective Shift #1: When you walk into a store, you browse around. You don't see anything you want. The owner asks, "May I help you?" You say, "No thank you" and walk out. Do you think the store owner dissolves into tears? No. They know it's not personal. They simply don't expect everyone to be interested or buy something.

Perspective Shift #2: Network marketing in some sense is a numbers game. The more no's you get, the closer you are to a yes. There's no way of getting around those odds. That means, every time someone tells you no, consider celebrating. I recommend hanging up the phone, jumping up and down, and shouting joyfully "Awesome! I got another no!!"

Perspective Shift #3: When my younger brother was a little boy, he had no qualms about asking for anything he wanted. Prime example: After my dad opened one of his birthday gifts, my brother said, "Can I have that?" My older brother and I were astonished by his audacity. My mom summed up my younger brother's attitude simply: "He figures the worst thing you can say is, 'No.'"

The next time you're feeling the sting of rejection, try a perspective shift. Use one of the above or come up with your own.