Shake It Off and Step Up

The parable of the farmer and the old mule.

"Once upon a time there was a farmer who had an old mule. The mule fell into a deep dry well and began to cry loudly. Hearing his mule cry, the farmer came over and assessed the situation. The well was deep and the mule was heavy. He knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the animal out.

Because the mule was old and the well was dry, the farmer decided to bury the animal in the well. In this way he could solve two problems: put the old mule out of his misery and have his well filled.

He called upon his neighbors to help him and they agreed to help. To work they went. Shovel full of dirt after shovel full of dirt began to fall on the mule’s back. He became hysterical. Then all of a sudden an idea came to the mule. Each time they would throw a shovel full of dirt on his back he could shake it off and step up. Shovel full after shovel full, the mule would shake it off and step up. Now exhausted and dirty, but quite alive, the mule stepped over the top of the well and walked through the crowd."

And so it is with rejection and failure.  In sales, fundraising, and business development, we get alot of no's.  In science, there are often many failed experiments before a solution is found.  In fact, a "failed experiment" is often viewed as a success.  As Thomas Edison is quoted as having said regarding the so-called failed experiments that lead to the discovery of a workable incandescent lamp (paraphrase): "I now know of 1,000 ways not to build one". 

People with whom I've interacted over the years will often ask me: "how do you deal with all the rejection"? There are three answers that can be helpful.  First, never take a no personally (most of the time, folks are rejecting the offering).  Second, keep in mind that no's can be stepping stones to a yes (learn from rejection and failure).  Finally, remember the parable of the mule in the well: shake it off and step up!