REJECTION

“I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat”, Sylvester Stallone

He wasn’t interested in formal education and used to get bad grades. This son of a blacksmith and a weaver moved to the city, from his village, at the age of 15 looking for work. He had a dream of working for the biggest company of his time. On arrival, in the city, he got a job with great difficulty, as an apprentice in a car garage. He worked for six years and returned to his village to start his own auto repair business. With his innovative skills and creativity he developed an engine piston ring. With all excitement about his creation, he approached his dream company to showcase it. However, he was rejected, as the company felt that it didn't meet their high standards of engineering.? Undeterred by this rejection he enrolled himself in a technical school with a goal to figure out why he couldn't produce the piston ring at the required quality. He worked hard for two years to plug the loopholes in his design and developed the piston ring which was better than the quality desired by the company. This earned him the contract of making piston rings for his dream company. The? company which he established to manufacture the piston rings was bombed twice during Second World War by US ,followed? by a massive earthquake which wiped out his plant. He thought it as a rejection by nature and his company had come to an end. The resilient man resurrected himself from the setbacks by readjusting and rehashing his approach towards his goal. Despite facing extreme rejections, challenging circumstances and unimaginable adversities, he transformed his vision into a pioneering global powerhouse to become the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer.?

He is Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda company.

“Be ready to face rejection and don’t let it destroy your self-belief. When faced with rejection, stop and think. Is it worth pursuing the same plan, the same path, or is it time to explore a less travelled path? Should you try out a new journey plan as a way of springing back?’, mentions Ambi Parameswaran in his book “Spring”.?

Soichiro Honda explored the less travelled path after his rejection.

Great leaders understand that leadership demands resilience, grit, and determination. Effective leaders possess a unique blend of qualities that enable them to navigate rejections and challenges to inspire others and achieve exceptional results. They recognize rejection as a stepping stone to success. They embrace rejections as learning opportunities.?

Leaders are self-aware and confident about their abilities and persevere through adversities.

They? acknowledge rejections as inevitable part of leadership. They face, with patience, their proposals being declined, ideas being criticised and decisions being contested. However, they don’t internalise rejections as failure.?

“What was rejected? Your idea, your CV, your story. Not you”, opined Ambi Parameswaran in his book “Spring”.?

Great leaders, instead, separate personal and professional rejection. They seek feedback and learn from them. They reframe rejection as an opportunity to improve. They sport a growth mindset and focus on improvement and progress.

Thomas Edison's perseverance in the face of rejection is legendary. He famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." This resilience enabled him to pioneer groundbreaking innovations.

Leaders embrace rejections as learning opportunities. They set clear and ambitious goals.? They embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. They persevere to over come challenges and adversity.?

Nelson Mandela's unwavering commitment to equality and justice exemplifies this mindset. Despite decades of imprisonment and adversity, he remained steadfast, ultimately becoming South Africa's first black president and a global symbol of hope.?

Angela Merkel's patient leadership style has earned her international respect. By listening to diverse perspectives and taking calculated decisions, she has navigated Europe through economic turmoil and geopolitical challenges.

1. Reframe rejection as an opportunity for growth.
2. Set clear, ambitious goals and inspire others.
3. Prioritize perseverance and patience.
4. Seek constructive feedback and learn from failure.
5. Cultivate emotional intelligence and empathy.

Unbreakable leaders are forged in the fire of rejection, perseverance, patience, and resilience. Embrace these qualities to equip yourself to navigate leadership's challenges and achieve remarkable success.

"Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure.” -?Soichiro Honda (Founder, Honda Motor Company)