How To... Deal With Rejection

It was the awkward next day follow-up text. You know the one. “Hey! Great to meet you, but not sure we’ve got all that much in common.” If you’re on the singles market, then I’m sure you’re all familiar with them.

“No worries. Best of luck to you!” seems an appropriate response to this. Seconds later, my phone buzzes again.

“Um, you’re not mad?”

Okay buddy, just because you texted first, doesn’t mean I was head-over-heels smitten with you either…

Buzz goes my phone again.

“I can’t believe how well you’re handling this.”

Dude, it was one date. You’re scaring me.

I text back that I work in advertising (first clue that he didn’t listen much over dinner last night) and that part of the job means dealing with rejection all day, every day. So when it comes to the ‘real world’, I handle and process it well.

“Best of luck”, I text again.

The parting of ways takes yet another 15-minutes as he’s bewildered by my nonchalant reaction to his rejection, and then wants to know more.

Okay, so maybe saying I deal with rejection all day, every day was a tad over the top – but I’d argue we creatives handle rejection more often, and better, than most any other profession.

For example;

Creative work – This refers to rounds and rounds of ideas not liked by your boss, internal team or the client. We pound the agency pavement for great ideas and go brief-revision after revision before coming close to the solution. We hear 'no' a thousand times for every ‘yes’. But we keep on ‘truckin’.

Interviewing – Whether due to agency restructuring or because it’s simply time for a new challenge, there’s nothing like finding the courage (for some it’s harder than others) to put yourself out there. And once you do, you’re bound to face a few rejection phone calls and emails before finally landing that job.

Award shows – We’ve all been there. The year we felt we produced the best work of our careers, where we even book hotels and put flights on hold, ony to find out the work isn't even shortlist. It takes a few days, but we eventually learn to brush it off, and channel that defeat into next year’s work. Look out Titanium!

Losing pitches/clients – Sure this one impacts everyone at the agency. But a lot of times I’d argue that creative takes it the hardest. Especially when these new business loses or client moves are in direct reference to the work. “Yeah, we think the work could be better.” How’s that for a hit to the ego?

I’d argue the art of dealing with rejection is one of life’s greatest skills. And thanks to advertising, where I’ve had a good taste of getting swiped left my whole career, long before ‘swiping left’ was actually a thing, I’m more equipped to handle it.

As for my Tinder dude? He was so inspired he rethought his rejection and said a second dinner date would actually be great.

Flattered, I thanked him - both for the date and the text chat. But if advertising (and Keith Olberman) have taught me anything about rejection – beyond how to deal with it – it’s this:

Reject me once; well, that’s your choice. Reject me twice? You should never let it happen. Because “the world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion, some may be correct. But do not do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say 'no' — they may not be smart enough to say 'yes.”