Dr. Nadia Brown: How to overcome your fear of rejection

by Dr. Nadia Brown

None of us thought we’d have to face rejection when we started our businesses excited and passionate about doing what we love. However, the bottom line is you have to generate revenue to pay the bills. When you think of putting yourself out there, building your business, generating revenue and creating sales, you know you’re going to encounter rejection. That means it’s time for some rejection therapy as it relates to sales.

Rejection therapy involves taking courageous steps to hear “no” so you can inevitably get to “yes.” Yes you will definitely hear “Yes.”

First, I want you to know that fear of rejection is a natural thing. Studies show when it comes to all fears we have as humans, fear of rejection is right up there in the top three fears, following fear of public speaking. That’s right and remember, you are not alone AND you’re in good company.

Many of our feelings and fears about rejection stem from events that happened when we were children. For example, I didn’t live with my dad growing up, but he lived next door to a really good friend of mine. When I was a senior in high school, I remember going over to his house to get his signature on something. I knew people were at home but when I knocked on the door, I didn’t get an answer. Did my dad just give me a major diss?!

The truth is, sometimes you carry those feelings into your adulthood; and, it shows up in your business and defines your approach to sales. As entrepreneurs, when you decided to venture into the marketplace, it also means you opened yourself up to lots of rejection. In fact, some days it may be especially difficult to separate the business rejection from the personal rejection. Those feelings from your childhood tend to show up in your sales conversations. However, it’s important to remember you have to filter those feelings so you can do the things that help you build your business, generate revenue and make sales.

It is possible to overcome your fear of rejection and it is possible for you to develop the skills. You may not ever grow fully comfortable with rejection, but you will become effective so it won’t take you completely off your game in the future.

When you travel, do you put everything on hold when you encounter a delay? Do you stop when your flight is delayed? Do you totally quit when you run into customs issues? Your answer is No, right? You keep going, right?

So, why do you stop doing things in your business just because you heard “No” several times?

I know “No” is scary because even though I teach this, I still feel the pangs of “No,” too. “No” is a sign that you’re getting one step closer to your destination. It’s confirmation you’re moving closer to “Yes.” There is power in the “No.”

A few days ago, I started a 30-day challenge for members of the Beyond Limits Live Movement. I was hosting a #ContentCrash in the group and someone suggested the challenge. Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of the 600+ member group, WendyY Bailey, said, “Let’s do it!” and we were off and running.

During the 100 No’s Challenge, you discover how to:

1. Identify your location and your destination.

   Your location is where ever you are. As an entrepreneur, you may have been in business one year, three years, or five years or longer. Start where you are. You have big dreams and big visions. Dreams of being a mogul. Dreams of being highly successful. Your destination is somewhere you would like to be that is not where you are currently. On the journey from your location to your destination, you’re taking action to move toward your big dreams, goals and vision.

2. Build your courage muscle.

   Whether you’re engaging in conversations via email, Facebook ads, Facebook Live, conferences where you get on stage to speak live, or you pick up the phone, or have in-person conversations, you’re on your journey and taking action. You’re telling people about your products, programs and services. You’re also asking for sales in exchange for the services you provide.

3. Identify with whom you’re speaking.

   Are you speaking to your most ideal clients? What characteristics are common in the “Yes” responses?

4. What you are offering or what data/information you are gathering.

   Knowing what you’re offering when you hear “No” is just as important as when you hear a “Yes.” Why? It’s because it helps you tweak your offering for the next conversation. It also let’s you know what your most ideal clients are interested in buying. Remember, you’re collecting data from each and every conversation. Pay close attention to the data so you can discover how to master rejection therapy. Tweak your conversations so you get to a “Yes” response. Notice which programs and services are more popular.

5. How many “No” responses are you hearing.

   Remember, “No,” is a necessary part of your journey to get to your destination. Your destination is your dream, your revenue goal or your desired outcome. Yes, is inevitable! So, the question is, how many “Nos” will it take you to hit your revenue goal? Have a sold-out event? Fill your program? Achieve your desired outcome? Get to your destination?

6. Identify the exact responses you’re hearing.

   Your “No” responses help identify buying objections so you can get ahead of rejections when you hear them in the future. Extra Tip: Ask for referrals. If your program isn’t right for your content, she may know someone else who your program IS right for.

7. What are you noticing about your emotions.

   Are you moving through your emotions or are they getting in the way?

Join the exclusive 30-Day Rejection Challenge today. Get all of the details now

We all want to get to our destination and “No” is how we get there!

DrNadia Brown

Dr. Nadia Brown is an authentic, bold champion for women business leaders. She is the founder of Doyenne Leadership Institute, LLC. Through her workshops, intensives, and retreats, she helps women break through the glass ceilings they encounter in business by helping them build profitable and sustainable businesses. When it comes to sales, women come to her timid and shaky about going after the money – they leave her strategic, strong, emboldened and most importantly, paid. Dr. Nadia has helped her clients generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales and has been featured in publications such as Black Enterprise Magazine and The Huffington Post.