(And using a childhood song to accomplish it)
Childhood Song: Rejection Strategy
I believe the simple things in life can give us tips on how we can modify our mindset. A song introduced in my childhood is instrumental in how I address rejection during the job search process. It’s called “Jump In, Jump Out.” Ironically this song is labeled as an icebreaker, which is great because there are steps in this song that can help you break the ice on making moves after facing rejection. This song gave me 4 ways to grow after rejection.
But first, let’s cover the tough stuff.
A part of my life that happens every three to four years— a marathon of rejections.
I know someone can relate–highly qualified military spouse with degrees, certifications, experience, and no job. Within six months, I can accrue triple digits worth of rejections during every PCS move. Whether from the path of intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship, or even a mixture of both, the “no’s” I receive usually provide me with more than the needed dose.
Even after I ensure the completion of necessities to success, rejection still finds its way to me.
Research the market—done.
Great tailored pitch, resume, and cover letter—done.
Strong network referral—done.
Excellent references (that I scattered to find)—also done.
But then, after going through several phases of the interview process, I received no response or follow-up months later. And after putting myself out there to grow my business, my result is to be overlooked. But, I’m not giving up— I’m not done.
While rejection does supply inherent emotions that can discourage us, we can also use rejection to our advantage. It can be a part of learning and growing. So, the next time you move and unemployment becomes a significant storyline—try to accept rejection as part of your journey. Because no inspiring story includes, ” I got a yes every time I tried. ”
But first, I want to be clear that it is okay to get upset, frustrated, overwhelmed and whatever else you feel as you experience rejection. But, if those feelings are preventing you from moving forward, don’t stay there.
The 4 ways to grow after rejection came from that childhood song that I sang as a kid provides solid advice as an adult when facing rejection.
The words are: “Jump in. Jump out. Turn yourself about. Jump In. Jump out. Introduce yourself.” I will cover how this simple phrase can assist you with four ways to construct some positive changes in the face of rejection.
- Jump In. Have you ever dipped your feet in cold, shallow water instead of jumping in completely? I have, and usually, I don’t get in after that. When it comes to jumping in—jump in completely. Submerge yourself in a place where you may be scared; you can still grow and learn because you are surrounded by knowledge and support. Try new things or revisit old things in a new way. Get involved with your local community. Find a group of people who can support you overwhelmingly.
- Jump Out. If you find yourself in a place that isn’t helpful for growth, jump out. Jumping out allows you the opportunity to step away and evaluate your situation to see how you can adjust or pivot to maintain your trajectory, one thought at a time. Once you can craft the right formula for you to grow, jump back in and try again.
- Turn yourself about. After evaluating the situation, make some changes and determine if things can be done differently or more effectively. And sometimes, the only change left to make is your mindset. Transformations don’t have to be a 180-degree major overhaul completed all at once. Deliberate, precise changes will get you there. If your mind interprets “no’s” as a negative, then one situation at a time, find a way to translate the “no” as a way to grow. Rejections can teach us patience, wisdom, and it’s a sign that we are trying. But to see the positives, we need to be in a place where we can learn from them.
4. Introduce Yourself. There are two forms of introduction that you can implement to help you stay the course amid rejection. The first introduction is for you. After you allow yourself to learn, grow, and evaluate, you can make it clear to yourself what your plan is.
If you aren’t clear on what your goal is, no one else will be as well. The second part of introducing yourself is to introduce yourself and the plan to others. Develop a pitch, a 30-60 second overview, of who you are and your goal. If you know the plan, whether it is to be an amazing intrapreneur or an excellent entrepreneur, you need to make that part of your pitch so that people can have a clear understanding of what you represent.
Rejection can seem intimidating and discouraging as you work to maintain employment or to start a business. But don’t let being afraid talk you out of trying. I have failed many times. Public failures, private failures, social media failures—it happens. But as I keep trying, I adjust, and I acknowledge the benefits of not getting it the first time.
From one military spouse to another, stay encouraged because life happens, but when you can learn from the no’s, it can brighten your outlook on life.
