09/16/2026
We’ve all experienced the joy of being rejected. Whether it’s not getting picked for the kickball team or losing out on a job opportunity, that uneasy sense of being unwanted or unneeded is not pleasant.
As professionals, it’s how we deal with rejection that will determine our future success and at times, our personal happiness.
It can also indicate whether or not we’d like to do business with someone again.
When I was an Operations Area Manager at Valleyfair in the early 2000’s, one of the departments I oversaw was Park Services. That meant that I had the daunting task one year to evaluate and research new providers for the park’s trash service. In the end, it came down to a decision between a well-known national brand that everyone would recognize and a local outfit called Dick’s Sanitation. We felt we would get the best service and experience from the local company so I called my rep at the national brand and let him know.
To say he didn’t handle the rejection well is an understatement.
I understand people being proud of their product and wanting to see it succeed, but you would have thought that I insulted and brought harm to his Mother, wife, dog and unborn children all at the same time.
He told me, in aggressive and colorful language, that I had made the wrong decision. That my inexperience would cost the company thousands of dollars and that we’d be embarrassed when the company we chose wouldn’t be able to handle our capacity.
He didn’t change my mind, nor did he endear me to his company. However, did inspire me to never even look at another bid from his company as long as I was I charge of trash at Valleyfair.
Side note: I was back at Valleyfair for CoasterNerdCon in 2017 and was happy to see they were still using Dick's Sanitation for their trash service. Boo-ya!
This one experience left such a bad taste in my mouth about not handling rejection well that it completely changed my attitude about the whole process. 25 years later, there isn't a rejection that goes by that I don't think of that guy from the national trash service yelling at me over the phone about the disastrous decision I made.
In a recent newsletter, I was sharing about all the rejection I was getting during the launch of the most recent round of Mastermind programs (as of Sept. 15, enrollment is still OPEN if you would like to reject me, too!).
Because of my experience at Valleyfair, I choose to look at this rejection not as "being pushed away, left out or refused", but as feedback. It's easy to take a "no", or "not now", or "maybe next year" as a personal attack. But that is a waste of energy AND it will likely lead to behavior that is less than respectful. Instead, if we look at this as an opportunity to continue the conversation, find out more and LEARN something, you proactively strengthen relationships and gain knowledge for the future.
So as much as I didn't want to hear it, I chose to embrace each rejection with phrases like, "thank you", "I totally understand", and "I will keep you in the loop for next year." Maybe not the best way to overcome sales objections, but I am okay with that.
Let's review: Take it personally and burn bridges OR see it as feedback and learn something that can help you grow. Seems like a no brainer to me.
There is one more part of this that is worthy to mention. Because rejection can be so unpleasant, it can be easy to remove the chance of feeling that way by remaining in your comfort zone. Don't risk putting yourself in a position to be rejected and you'll spare yourself the embarrassment.
I could have run the Mastermind programs just like I did last year (6 months of Zoom calls) and it would have been great. All of the glowing testimonials you see have been from people who experienced that type of program. So it works.
But I also know in my heart of hearts (and have also received this feedback) that an in-person component would take the experience to another level.
Might I not get enough people to run the program in this fashion? Might I lose a big chunk of money? Might I have to go back to the people who did enroll and let them know that we can't run the program because we couldn't fill the retreat?
The answer to all of those questions is yes.
And if I didn't try, if I didn't risk the rejection, I wouldn't have learned all the cool things I have learned in the last few months.
For me, that knowledge and growth is worth a little rejection.
Thanks for reading!
Matt
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407-435-8084
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