Lesson 6. Turn rejection into motivation
Welcome back to Methods to Motivation, a free multi-part course on how to gain + maintain motivation. Here’s what we’ve covered so far:
- 1. Clarify what you want
- 2. Internalize your motivation
- 3. Motion leads to motivation
- 4. When your goals are vague, motivation will fade
- 5. Find the Why behind your motivation
Now, let’s dive into Lesson 6…
Turn rejection into motivation
Rejection has a way of deflating motivation unlike any other.
In the middle of 2009, a software engineer named Brian Acton was on the hunt for a new career.
With a dozen years of experience under his belt at Yahoo and Apple, he figured he’d be able to find new work in no time.
But unfortunately for Brian, he had somehow become the software engineer that no one wanted to hire…
First, he applied with Twitter.
He was rejected.
Then, he tried taking his skills to Facebook.
Rejected again.
Feeling frustrated about getting rejected by two tech giants in a row, he went back to Twitter to share his pain.
First, he posted about his Twitter rejection, writing:
(“Got denied by Twitter HQ. That’s ok. Would have been a long commute.”—)
Next, he posted about getting denied by Facebook:
(“Facebook turned me down. It was a great opportunity to connect with some fantastic people. Looking forward to life’s next adventure.”—)
After trying and getting rejected at another big tech company, Brian decided to do his own thing…
He teamed up with a colleague and together, they cofounded a cloud-based messaging app that you’ve probably used and definitely heard of.
It’s called WhatsApp.
And on February 19, 2014, it was acquired by Facebook—the very same company that rejected him only five years earlier—for $19 BILLION.
If Brian Acton’s job application had not been rejected by Facebook, it’s unlikely the world would’ve ever been introduced to WhatsApp.
How to apply this method
– Next time you’re rejected, think of it as a good thing.
– Rather than thinking of every rejection as a door that gets slammed in your face and stays shut permanently, think of it as one less door you need to open.
– Then move on to the next one, knowing that every door that doesn’t open, gets you closer and closer to the one that will. Framing it in this way will encourage your motivation, rather than inhibit it.
Wanna take a deeper dive? Check out my new audio program, Month of Motivation: 30 days of methods to gain + maintain your motivation.