Unfortunately, we will all face disappointments, rejections, and outright failures.
Many people will choose self-doubt, sadness, wallowing, and despair.
I have found that the most important thing is to get back in the game, to get back into action, as quickly as possible. I like to use rejection and failure as fuel. What have I learned? What have I now found doesn’t work? What can I do with that data to adjust my approach?
With that information, I get back into action. And the faster I do, the less likely I am to get caught in the negative thoughts and emotions loop that breeds depression and desperation.
Many people wait for motivation to show up before they act. The best and most successful know that motivation comes from action, not before it.
The most successful people also know that if you stay in the game, you still have a chance to win. Only when you’re no longer in the game have you actually lost. And the longer you stay in the game, the more you increase your odds of success. And the odds of success do not increase incrementally over a longer time horizon; they increase exponentially.
The most successful people know that one of the greatest keys to success is to just not die. If you die, you’re out. If you stay in the game, you can still win.
The next time you’re despairing, rejected, or feeling like a failure, ask what action you can take to stay in the game and keep moving forward. Act on that and see what happens. Focus on what you control.
The longer the time horizon in which you survive, the greater the chances of sustained success.
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