The Beauty of Rejection, Part I
Posted 04-03-2009 at 10:04 AM by J. Smith Adams
Rejection is like the gas in your car, you'll get nowhere without it. Freelancers are generally overdosed in rejection. So much so, many become so discouraged they give up all together.
In many ways, those that give up are supposed to give up. I'm not hinting at some type of business Darwinism, but those who continue to press do so for a reason.
When I first started freelancing rejection used to ruin my day and my sleep at night. I absolutely hated seeing my bids declined or not getting picked for a project. Then I realized something. The only thing useful for learning how to win is losing. Winning teaches you very little, losing can teach you everything, if you pay attention.
I see that look on your face...let me explain. Losing without a take-away is unproductive. I'm talking about losing to learn. When I started listening to what the buyers were saying who declined my bid I learned something. The first three lines of my bid were the most important. LEAD WITH THE LEAD! DON'T BURY IT.
Say what is best about you first, what is second and third doesn't matter. Keep editing your bids until you find an approach that works consistently. Not a template, but a general approach. I call it systematic spontaneity.
Stay tuned for Part II and III.
J. Smith Adams
Elance Money Secrets
In many ways, those that give up are supposed to give up. I'm not hinting at some type of business Darwinism, but those who continue to press do so for a reason.
When I first started freelancing rejection used to ruin my day and my sleep at night. I absolutely hated seeing my bids declined or not getting picked for a project. Then I realized something. The only thing useful for learning how to win is losing. Winning teaches you very little, losing can teach you everything, if you pay attention.
I see that look on your face...let me explain. Losing without a take-away is unproductive. I'm talking about losing to learn. When I started listening to what the buyers were saying who declined my bid I learned something. The first three lines of my bid were the most important. LEAD WITH THE LEAD! DON'T BURY IT.
Say what is best about you first, what is second and third doesn't matter. Keep editing your bids until you find an approach that works consistently. Not a template, but a general approach. I call it systematic spontaneity.
Stay tuned for Part II and III.
J. Smith Adams
Elance Money Secrets
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Well said. I'm a freelancer too, and I've dealt with some rejections myself. But persistence does pays off at the end.Posted 04-03-2009 at 06:49 PM by coolwriter
- Posted 04-03-2009 at 08:40 PM by J. Smith Adams
