What If Getting Rejected Could Lead to Your Biggest Win This Year?

The holiday blues are over, and the festivities have long faded. As life and responsibilities beckons, many of us feel the pull to retreat into the familiar— Familiar comfort zones, habits, and routines that feel safe. But not many have written their names in history by playing it safe. Growth, transformation, and success lie just beyond what is comfortable.

This year, I want to challenge you to reshape your perspective and transform your journey as an entrepreneur using a concept I call "Striving for 100 Rejections."

Failing Your Way to Success

Imagine setting a goal not to avoid rejection but to actively seek it—to aim for 100 rejections this year. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But in striving for rejection, you open yourself to more opportunities than ever before. Every “no” becomes a step closer to a “yes,” and those yeses have the potential to change everything.

In 2013, I was running a small business in Nigeria and decided to take on a similar challenge. I made 32 applications, faced 25 rejections, and received 7 yeses. Those yeses led to a $30,000 business grant from the Nigerian government, three all-expense-paid international trips, and collaborations with a Nigerian ministry. These wins transformed my business and my life. I didn’t even hit 100 rejections, but the effort itself paid off in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

Why Should You Strive for Rejections?

Rejection is often the barrier between where we are and where we want to be. But what if you changed your perspective? What if rejection became just another part of the process—one you actively pursued? Seeing rejection as a part of the process can help to:

1. Overcome Fear: Facing rejection repeatedly lessens its sting. The fear of hearing “no” diminishes, and courage takes its place.
2. Unearth Opportunities: Every outreach or application is a chance to discover something new—a connection, an insight, or even an unexpected "yes."
3. Learn and Grow: Each rejection brings lessons—about your approach, your pitch, and sometimes, about refining your goals.

Opportunities Are Everywhere

Opportunities are not always the big, flashy things. They are often hidden in plain sight, waiting for you to act. They might look like:

• Applying for that business grant you’ve been eyeing but felt unqualified for.
• Reaching out to a company for a partnership, even if it feels like a long shot.
• Cold emailing someone you admire to ask for mentorship or collaboration.
• Pitching your business idea to investors or entering a competition.
• Offering to speak at an event or write for an industry publication.

Sometimes, opportunities are as simple as starting a conversation with someone who inspires you or sharing your expertise with a wider audience. They are not all conventional or obvious, but they are out there, waiting for you to take the leap.

Tools for Entrepreneurs in Canada

If you’re in Canada, opportunities abound and they might be closer than you think. Government grants, such as the Canada Small Business Financing Program, can help you take your business to the next level. Regional innovation funds are another excellent place to start. Mentorship programs, like those offered by Starter Company Plus, connect you with experienced professionals and even funding opportunities.

Networking hubs like your local Chamber of Commerce or Startup Canada can introduce you to collaborators and potential partners. And don’t underestimate the power of industry events, be it a conference or a meetup, showing up with intention can yield incredible results. Aim to make three memorable connections at every event you attend.

How to Get Started

1. Set Your Sights: Think about the types of opportunities that excite you and align with your vision.
2. Track Your Progress: Use a simple tracker to note every application, outreach, and result.
3. Pace Yourself: Quality over quantity. Focus on opportunities that truly matter to you to avoid burnout.
4. Take the Leap: Start small if you need to, but start. The first step is always the hardest, and the most important.

What’s the Worst That Can Happen?

If you try and fail, you are no worse off than if you hadn’t tried at all. But if you try and succeed, even once, it could be the breakthrough you need. By being open to rejections, you are creating possibilities where none existed before.

A Word of Balance

Do not chase every opportunity blindly. Be intentional. Make sure the opportunities you pursue are in line with your goals and values. Burnout is real, and managing your energy is key to making this challenge sustainable.

Strive for 100 rejections this year. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone, take bold actions, and embrace the potential of “no.” Because somewhere in those rejections lies a “yes” that could change everything.

"Every no you hear brings you closer to the yes that matters most." – Unknown

Wishing you courage, resilience, and success in 2025 and beyond. Let’s make it a year to remember.

Until next week, keep innovating and growing.

Yours,

Chidinma Akaniro