Introverts for Salesforce: Overcoming Fear of Rejection?

On your epic quest for a Salesforce career, you can face scads of – or scabs from – rejection (unless you’re someone like Anita Smith who got recognized seemingly instantly for her brilliance!).

As a result, paralysis sets in.

Why try?

Definition of Madness, right?

Unfortunately, I see others in the Talent Stacker program getting discouraged as well, wanting to give up.

Ideally, if you get rejected after a job interview, you’d get feedback on how to improve, reflect on that, then move on with improved interviewing skills. For me, it’s like asking them to twist the knife. Or “Thank you, Sir, may I have another!”

I’m still getting over a rejection that took six weeks of my life – building a demo org, doing two psych tests, two interviews, only to get an email saying “you’d be a better fit somewhere else”. If I were a diva, I’d shrug it off and think “Their loss.”

But it stung, badly.

Still, I wished them the best. For karmic reasons.

After too many rejections, it feels like a Sisyphean task (or in my case a Sissy-phean task) to get a Salesforce job.

Then I remind myself: anything worth getting can take blood, sweat, and tears. Try getting into a decent college, sports team, the Olympics, or baking show (“The Great British Bake-Off” is back!!!, so excited). Or just making a positive difference in this world.

And there are so many examples of people who persevered after countless rejections – J.K. Rowling, Walt Disney, Abraham Lincoln, Monet, on an on.

Here’s one that’s truly relatable: Stephen King’s and his famous novel “Carrie” that almost never was. He’d started writing it but after finding it rough-going, threw it in the trash. Then his wife actually dug it out, dusted off ash that had been thrown on top of it, read it and encouraged him to finish the manuscript. When finally completed, it was rejected by 30 publishers. He kept going and now he’s a legend.

Yeah you say, but these people are/were talented and special. I just want a job.

Well, it’s tough out there. You’ve got to force people to recognize your brilliance. That’s where the unfortunate marketing, networking and branding comes into play.

That’s where preparation can meet opportunity.

It’s not just luck. You need the goods to back it up; otherwise, the opportunity won’t lead anywhere. Or you just become a social media star- not that I’m judgy (although I am) but does Kim Kardashian’s badunka-dunk qualify as a talent?

OK, I’m hitting the limit on my word count and perhaps your patience, so I’ll continue next week with another seemingly impossible success story, happening real time on Broadway right now, with new rising star, Julie Benko!

Photo by Sabrina Wendl on Unsplash