Disrespect to Drive: Turn Rejection into Fuel

It was Monday morning, but I was feeling good—confident even—as I logged into a video call with a promising prospect. This could be it. The conversation that led to the deal that would scale our business to the next level.

The prospect greeted me with a tight smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. As we dove into the pitch, I could tell he wasn’t sold—but I pressed on, adjusting my delivery to make our value clearer. I walked him through our metrics, shared our success stories, painted the vision.

Then it happened.

He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and with a half-smirk and made a rude, ignorant statement about our business.

My stomach tightened. My initial reaction was disbelief: Did he really just say that?

A flush of anger rose, but I quickly tamped it down. I glanced at the smiling faces on the team call, holding back the instinct to snap. This is your baby, I reminded myself. Don’t let him see you sweat.

I laughed—a forced, polite chuckle—and steered the conversation forward, but inside, I was fuming. How could he dismiss 18 months of work in one snide comment? Was it my fault? Did I fail to explain the value clearly enough? Or was he just too closed-minded to understand?

What were the options?

Get mad and confront him? Call out the disrespect?

Or stay composed, wrap the conversation respectfully, and move forward, knowing not every opportunity turns into a win?

That moment stayed with me. Not just because of the comment but because of what it taught me about rejection, resilience, and how to handle the naysayers who inevitably show up on the path to success.

Keep reading to learn how I turned that rejection into fuel—and how you can, too.

Thrown Into The Unknown, Alone

Let’s be honest—entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. The safety nets you had as an employee—your title, your company’s reputation, the resources at your disposal—disappear overnight. Suddenly, you’re out in the world, unshielded, and sometimes, it feels like the world doesn’t care.

You may find people in your network stop taking your calls, and it stings to realize that the relationships you thought were genuine were more tied to your former role than to you. Worse, you’ll face new kinds of disrespect. Some will ignore you outright; others will discredit you.

They won’t see your vision because it doesn’t fit neatly into their boxes.

And you know what? That’s okay.

You’re not going to win every deal or sign every partnership. If you close one out of ten prospects, you’re doing well. Two out of ten? Fantastic. Three out of ten? You’re crushing it.

Using Insults to Your Advantage

The world is full of naysayers, doubters, and those who can’t—or won’t—imagine the possibilities your venture represents. Some people just love to hate, too.

It’s fine.

Instead of letting their negativity drag you down, channel that energy into forward momentum. Being able to let go of the anger is easier when you keep these three things in mind:

1. They’re not against you; they’re for themselves. Most rejection isn’t personal—it’s self-preservation. People operate within their own limited worldviews. Accept that they might not see what you see. You’ve moved beyond their boundaries, and that’s a good thing.
2. Turn disrespect into fuel. Let rejection light a fire under you. Use it to refine your pitch, sharpen your strategy, and push harder when things get tough.
3. Forgive and move on. Holding onto anger doesn’t serve you. Forgiveness clears your head and your heart, freeing up space for what really matters: building something great.

Rejection and disrespect can be valuable—if you let them be. They highlight gaps in your pitch, offer a chance to fine-tune your positioning, and provide motivation to keep going.

Entrepreneurs Are Built Different

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It demands grit, resilience, and a willingness to take risks. Some people prefer the security and comfort of working for an established firm, and that’s okay. Others don’t want the weight of strategy, vision, and decision-making. That’s okay too.

But here’s the truth: you’re different. You’ve chosen the harder, more uncertain path, and that takes guts.

Celebrate the ones who stand by you—the friends, mentors, and early believers who lend their time, expertise, and trust.

These are your people.

Appreciate them, because loyalty and support are rare gifts in this journey.

So, the next time someone dismisses you or your venture, pause. Ask yourself what you can learn from the interaction, thank them for their time, and move forward with a clear head.

There’s value in every "no" if you’re wise enough to find it.

Good luck out there. You’ve got this.

- Anthony Tsigourakos

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