Let’s Keep It REAL

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after facing adversity, whether it’s rejection, unexpected changes, or everyday challenges. Resilience isn’t just a skill—it’s the foundation that enables you to stay motivated, keep learning, and continue pushing forward, even when things aren’t going your way.

Why is resilience especially important for you?

• As a job seeker: You’re putting in a lot of effort applying to roles, only to experience ghosting or rejection more often than clarity or feedback. Not receiving a clear reason can be frustrating, and it requires resilience to stay motivated.
• As someone breaking into a new industry: How many entry-level tech roles ask for years of experience or degrees that aren’t truly necessary? It can feel like an uphill climb. Resilience helps you push forward despite these barriers.
• As a new sales professional: BDRs hear “no” more than “yes,” and silence even more often than that. Sales requires resilience to navigate the frequent rejections and keep reaching for each “yes” that brings you closer to your goals.

Tips for Building Resilience

Lean On Your Community:

Resilience is much harder to build in isolation. When challenges arise, connecting with others who’ve faced similar situations provides perspective and support. Lean on friends, colleagues, mentors, and peers. Feeling part of a community can make a huge difference in keeping your momentum going.

Set Realistic Goals:?

Nothing will deflate you faster than repeatedly missing your targets. When starting a new job search or a role, it’s easy to be overambitious. Setting achievable goals helps build confidence and avoid burnout. Be honest about your resources and limitations, and adjust as necessary. Unexpected events can pop up, and resilient people know that being adaptable is key to long-term success.

Be Consistent (Don’t Expect Overnight Success):

Resilience is built over time, and consistency is its backbone. While unrealistic goals can lead to burnout, focusing on small, consistent steps will strengthen your skillset gradually. Instead of trying to master a new product overnight, consider reading customer reviews or setting up coffee chats with product team members to build your knowledge incrementally.

Learn from Rejection: Resilient people view challenges as learning opportunities. Breaking into a new industry or excelling in a new job will come with its share of setbacks, and as a sales professional, rejection is simply part of the process. Here’s how to use rejection to your advantage:

• Don’t Take It Personally: Many factors behind rejection are beyond your control. Taking it personally can lead to self-doubt. Instead, view rejection as feedback.
• Ask for Feedback: If you don’t land a role or sale, ask for feedback. It can be valuable in refining your approach. While not everyone will offer feedback, those who do can provide insights to help you improve.

Protect Your Energy - Set Boundaries We’ve already discussed avoiding burnout by setting realistic goals. Another part of protecting your energy is setting boundaries, both at work and in your personal life. Even well-meaning people can take up your time and energy if boundaries aren’t in place. Saying “no” when you need to isn’t rude—it’s essential for maintaining your well-being.

Getting comfortable with saying “no” is crucial, even in a new job where you want to prove yourself. Protecting your energy might mean passing on a non-essential happy hour or setting limits on after-hours work requests.

Communicate & Stay Consistent Others can’t know your boundaries unless you make them clear. Setting boundaries and consistently upholding them helps others know what to expect. For example, if you need to leave on time to pick up your kids, communicate this early on so it becomes the norm.

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