How to turn rejection into opportunity

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Career Advice, Management, Management and Leadership Feb 17, 2017
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We’ve all been there…. you’ve just lost your job or failed an interview and it feels like the end of the world…

But sometimes, these difficult moments can be the best thing that could of happened to us.

We may not be in control of what happened but we all have control over how we react.

It’s easy  to wallow in self pity and over analyse the situation but what good is that going to do?

So, if this is you right now. It’s time to turn this negative energy into action. This starts with a little optimism, initiative and determination.

I want to share a story with you that I stumbled across online…

A jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at Microsoft.

The HR manager interviewed him, then gave him a test: clean the floor. The man passed the test with flying colors.

“You are hired,” HR manager informed the applicant, “give me your e-mail address, and I’ll send you the application for employment, as well as the date you should report for work.

The man replied ” I don’t have a computer, or an email!”

“I’m sorry,” said the HR manager. “If you don’t have an email, that means you do not exist. And we cannot hire persons who do not exist.”

The man was very disappointed.

He didn’t know what to do. He only had $10 with him. Once that is spent, he won’t have any money to buy any food.

He went to the supermarket and bought a crate of tomatoes with his $10.

He went from door to door and sold the tomatoes in less than two hours. He doubled his money.

He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. He realised that he can survive this way. He started to go everyday earlier, and return late.

He doubled or tripled his money every day. Soon, he bought a cart, then a truck. In a very short time, he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.

Five years later, the man became one of the biggest food retailers in the U. S. He started to plan his family’s future, and decided to have a life insurance.

He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan.

At the end of the conversation, the broker asked him for his email address.

The man replied: ‘ I don’t have an email.’

The broker was dumbfounded. “You don’t have an email, and yet have succeeded in building an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?,” he exclaimed.

The man thought for a while, and replied, “an office boy at Microsoft!”

Simply put, he didn’t give up. He took the rejection and instead of letting the disappointment overwhelm him he looked for opportunity.

We all have the same opportunities. Admittedly some have it easier than others but with a bit of determination, optimism and initiative you can make anything happen!

Remember, good days are always on the way and something better is reserved for you.

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