I always have a number of creative projects on the go. I am currently…
Writing a non-fiction book about overcoming mental illness and understanding mental health.
Co-writing a business book for building brands fit for the future.
Illustrating a picture book about a pigeon who is looking for a friend.
Drawing and snipping artworks with bright colours, bold shapes and recycled materials.
Working as a freelance brand and communications consultant.
Curating interview content for this community.
For any of these projects to be a success, I need to ask people to work with me, represent me, pay me. Gulp.
Just writing that makes me feel overwhelmed and anxious. It makes me want to reach for my PJs and cosy socks, close my curtains and hide under my duvet.
Why? Because if I ask anyone anything, I’ve got a chance they will say no.
And nos can hurt. Nos can make my skin scrawl and my cheeks blush. Nos can make me feel like I’m not good enough.
But fearing nos can also stop me from pursuing opportunities and experiences I want to have.
Luckily, I found Kim Liao’s 2016 article about Why You Should Aim for 100 Rejections A Year, and I follow
who was influenced by Tiffany Han, and who also knows Liz Mosley. They’ve been hunting down nos for a few years now.And I’ve decided to join their Rejection Expert ranks.
I’m in strict training.
I’m asking not cowering.
I’m recording my asks in a spreadsheet. And it has a special column for rejections.
Every time someone says no to me, I ceremoniously change a tiny cell from white to red. Rejection Red. A red so good it wouldn’t look out of place on a Farrow & Ball colour chart.
These little red rectangles are beginning to feel like collectibles. The creatives Pokémon, gotta catch ‘em all.
So this year I’m on the hunt for 100 nos.
So if you know any literary agents, non-fiction or picture book publishers; art agents or art galleries; people looking for brand, communications or sustainability support; individuals who would be happy to talk to me about their mental health…
Please introduce me.
I’m getting more comfortable with rejection.
And I have a hunch that along with a 100 nos, may come a few yeses. And I will soon need to spend some time finding an equally good green for my spreadsheet.
Is the fear of rejection holding you back? What would you do if you weren’t afraid of hearing no?
<3