Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

THE AUGUST EDITION:

Well, I just got rejected. I pitched the CBC a radio show idea and it got turned down. There used to be a time where that would really have an adverse affect on me. But not now.


Making the pitch!

Now, I tend to look at ways to build that relationship further...remembering someone wants to help you especially after they just told you "no". So I probed and asked about future opportunities and where I could have improved on my "Pitch".

The upshot of it all was that I could still be in the game at CBC radio and get in another way. The suggestion was to pitch being a contributor to other shows, like the Current and or Sunday Edition. Not only that to stay in the loop and get on board as a contributor to those two shows.

The bottom line is rejection doesn't mean it's the end...it means not now. It means you have to re-work things a bit to give people or your audience what they want.

So, when you're pitching business, keep pitching, stay in the game, nurture relationships, ask questions and plan for the future.

Let's delve into handling rejection a little bit more.

If you pitch a business proposal or make a cold call and you get rejected, the best bet is to check your attitude. It's never personal...it's just business. It wasn't meant to be and who knows maybe the next best thing is right around the corner.

Now that being said, none of us ever like to be rejected. It hurts. Sometimes the thing we seek is something that is vitally important to us. Sometimes, our future depends on it.


GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ANGER:

But when you do pitch or present a business idea/solution or proposal and you get turned down listen to the voice inside you. What's it saying? Is it hurt? Is it angry? Is it upset? If it is, then get that emotion out of you. Yell, scream, journal, whatever you do, just get your frustrations out...and really let it out, don't hold back.

I used to scream in my car alone and after about 10 minutes of that, I would just laugh at my being totally silly. That in that moment of outrage and hurt about being rejected, that after 10 minutes of pure screaming, I experienced a calm about the situation. A peace came over me.

So once you let it out...once you dump the anger...begin to shift your thoughts and think of what's next? What can you do to be better next time? This is where it's wise to ask the person that said no to your brilliant idea/proposal/concept or pitch is the person you need to ask about how you can improve in future?

It's a good time to ask about other possible ways to engage with the client and see if there are smaller opportunities so you get in on some level. You see if you close the door in anger, it may and probably will never open up again for you.


ASK GOOD QUESTIONS:

So be sure to ask the person that said "no" some questions to see if there is another possibility to continue some sort of relationship.

I liken it to dating, you might not be a fit for that person you go on a date with, but having them in your life as a friend may just be a really wonderful outcome!

So ask the person that said no...about staying in the loop somehow, because if you do get in...even on a small level, you never know when a brilliant opportunity might happen in the future. The key is to be there...and as Woody Allen once said, "99% of success is just showing up."

When you begin to explore why you're idea got rejected, you get a better sense of what the customer wants. So this pitch/proposal is a good first effort. The key now is to do a check in to see what the customer needs, based on that information you can tailor your proposals accordingly.

KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP ALIVE:

Ask also to maintain some kind of ongoing relationship with the person, keeping it light, professional and engaging. You don't want to bombard the individual, you want to just showcase your talents and ideas in a light informative way.


KNOW IT'S A NUMBERS GAME:

The other key thing about being rejected is that you have to know if you've given it your "best shot" that's all you can do. I remember pitching Adams Brands on handling all of their promotional products needs. We would have printed anything from t-shirts to pens with their logo's on it. I came in second. They loved what I did, but gave the business to someone who was offering a rebate discount. I didn't even think to offer that, so I lost the deal.

I do remember giving it my very best shot.

With this CBC radio proposal, I was up against 250 application/pitches a year. 2 of which get to air. It's hard to be upset when you're turned down with those numbers circling about.

I think I would have been more upset if I didn't have the nerve to pitch an idea.

So, never let fear be against you. Keep pitching, keep out there, keep going. If you do get rejected, seek to build and nurture your business relationships...sooner or later good things will come from it...

LEARN FROM IT:

One way to overcome rejection is to adopt a learning mindset. If you're open to learning and doing even better next time, have a learning mindset. You can be in judgment about the rejection, the company that rejected you or the person that said "no", or you can seek to understand where that "No" came from and then re-vise, re-work your submissions in future.

If you learn from rejection, if you adapt to what the market wants and you're open to being flexible, then rejection won't be so bad.

I hope this post helps you. I hope you have a ton of rejections, because that means you're playing full out. It means you're going to get business coming your way, because the more you ask, the more you pitch, the more you know your customers, the more you connect with people, the better your odds of success.

As usual, I include a motivational video and this month Brian Tracy (sales training/motivational expert) talks about handling fear. Have a great summer, keep going, remember there is still trillions of dollars changing hands around the globe each day and some of those dollars has your name on it.

Go make it happen!



Cheers/David