I try to spend at least an hour each day reading blogs and content from professionals, brands, and agencies on a regular basis. I have a routine I do each morning with my coffee (of course) where I sit down, read blog posts and articles to see what is trending, and reflect on how I could potentially tie this into my classes, work, and discussions.
One blog I go to pretty much on a regular basis is written by Jessica Smith (@WarEagleJess) and her perspective on sports, social media straegy
This is why I think Jessica is truly one of the best bloggers out there – her words flow from the screen and really resonate with her audiences from all parts in life from sports professionals, students, and even professors like myself.
Jessica wrote a post a few days ago that really resonated with me personally, but also was a post I’m going to make sure to share with my students in my classes.
We have to acknowledge and let others know – whether they are in our community or in our classroom – that they will hear “no” a lot. This could be no – this is not the right time to the extreme end of no way in (you know where). Jessica had some excellent suggestions and points for all of us to note and shares her own personal experiences.
Some things were not meant to be
There are many opportunities, conferences, projects, and jobs you may be applying for and wanting to get. However, some of these opportunities may not work out for reasons that are out of your control. With each experience though, you learn and grow as a person, and that is what makes you evolve.
One of the other lessons I do try to tell students is the fact that there a lot of factors that come into play in any given situation and as mentioned above, there are some things they can’t control. Acknowledging the fact that sometimes they lose a position due to someone who has a political or established connection with the intended organization is hard as an example. However, my advice for students is that this is actually a blessing in disguise. If they would say no to a qualified candidate and value a connection not based on merit instead, what does that say about the culture or atmosphere working there?
Be there for others when they get their “no’s”
Getting a no is not the best thing to happen to any one, especially if it is for a position and opportunity you were hoping for. One of the things I try to do as a professor is sit down with students and advice them on possible internship or job opportunities. There are always the cases where . Celebrate and praise them for when they do get those celebratory moments of yes and treasure them.
Be there as a shoulder to lean on when they do get their no’s and but encourage them to pick themselves up, dust off, and take action to learn from the experience and go to the next opportunity.
On the other hand, there are some cases in hindsight you actually are glad you heard a no from. In the moment, you may feel the emotional impact a no has on you. But, in the long run, it is sometimes the best thing that could happen. I’ve seen this with some of my students when it has come to internships or jobs they have applied for and didn’t get. However, they were motivated and applied for jobs that were 100x better than the original. It’s all about being there to put things into perspective.
Embrace the no’s to your advantage as personal and professional motivation
I fully believe there are some people and brands that will say no to you no matter what. That’s good to know so you can move on to others that will be a better fit. But use these no’s to your advantage to motivate you to work even harder and smarter to achieve your next steps. Always keep these in mind and move forward from the experience and not dwell on it.
Persistence and handling adversity are skills valued in the workplace
You can have all of the skills and knowledge in the world, but if you don’t know how to overcome challenges or persist to achieve a goal in today’s landscape, you will not be successful. You’ve got to be able to do a little bit each day and savor the wins and be able to recover from the losses. If everything came to us easily, then what are we doing? Life is challenging and full of many opportunities and obstacles. With each experience, interaction, and adventure we embark on, we grow as human beings and learn from the experiences.
I also tell students that overcoming challenges and learning from the experience separates themselves from others in the same position,. If you have had to work hard to achieve your goals and positions, you appreciate it more than if you were just given these opportunities.
These are just some of the points and strategies I have used as a professor to help my students when they get no’s. This is life and it does come down to how you react and respond to move forward. Personally, I have lost track on how many no’s over the years from being a student-athlete, doctoral student, and even a professor. That’s life – but with every no, there are many yes opportunities to be treasured.
I think it is essential to share these stories and experiences with those you are mentoring so they can see – yes, this happens to everyone and it comes down to how you respond and work towards achieving your goals. No’s will happen in life and it all comes down to what you do next.
This is one of my favorite quotes from Michael Jordan on this very topic.
Thanks again to Jessica for inspiring me to write this post. If you have not had a chance to read Jessica’s blog or follow her on Twitter, you should!
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
