So I got an email the other day from the TedX Speaking team informing me that my application to speak at the TedX event in Seattle was rejected. I was very disappointed to read this.
Rejection is not a nice feeling to have and really bring doubts on my abilities, where I started question if I even have what it takes to do well.
After all I’ve never spoken to more than 10 people in a room. I’ve never done public speaking in my life but yet here I am trying to do a TedTalk? Who am I kidding ?
I had a lot of doubts creeping in.
“Why would anyone listen to me?”
“I have nothing important to say?”
“ I’m not as smart as those inspirational speakers like Brene Brown,Simon Sinek…. Who’ve taken the same stage.”
But after reflecting I realized this rejection is the biggest gift I could have ever gotten .
After all, I came to the U.S by myself when I was 21 years old with nothing accomplished under my name. All I had was a dream.
I’ve faced every challenge you can think of including:
- Getting rejected 4 times to get a visa to come to America
- Failing all my courses in my first semester of college
- Getting rejected 30 times on interviews over 2 years before landing my first finance job
- Procrastinating on writing my book for 3 years because I rejected myself in not being good enough to write.
You see I never let those failed events define me on what’s possible.
Many times you might feel you’re not ready, but the truth is you will never be ready. There is never going to be a perfect or right time to go for what you want.
Many times you have to dive in and figure things out along the way.
I learnt that rejection is all part of the process to the road of success. Don’t get me wrong, rejection sucks (it really does) but if you practice persistence and hold on a bit longer towards your dream you will achieve it.
Perseverance is key
Since coming to the U.S almost 14 years ago, I’ve now earned a Finance and an MBA degree, worked for the biggest companies in the world, self published 2 books and started my own business.
None of it came easy and it wasn’t supposed to be either. It came down to hard work and constantly falling and getting backup many times.
You will experience pain through rejection, disappointments, and failures, but know that it’s all part of the process.There are no shortcuts to success.
If you fail, don’t ever give up on your dream just change course and try another way to get to your destination.I promise you, everything will come to you in divine timing.
“ You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore” -Christopher Columbus