One thing all of us experience in our professional lives is rejection. At some point or another, we won’t get our way.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow. But with it comes an opportunity, if we are willing to reframe our circumstances…

If it doesn’t work out with a client, don’t take it personally.

If you hear “no” after your perfect pitch, don’t be hard on yourself.

If your boss doesn’t appreciate you, don’t feel like a victim.

If sales figures aren’t meeting your goals, don’t throw in the towel.

Even if you get fired, don’t wallow in self-defeat.

It’s not rejection. It’s a redirection.

“I believe that rejection is a blessing because it’s the universe’s way of telling you that there’s something better out there.” –Michelle Phan

It might not even be a clear case of not getting your way. It might be that you dread Monday mornings and life is passing you by at a job you dislike. Or you could be feeling a nudge that you need to off-load a client who doesn’t respect your boundaries. Or it could be that you have grown resentful of your 9–5 job because your true passion gets sidelined to a few hours on the weekends. It could even be that you need to walk away from volunteer opportunities that don’t meet your ethical standards.

Whatever it is, take it as a sign that it’s time to do something differently.

Maybe it’s time to look for a new job. Maybe it’s time you become your own boss. If you work for yourself, maybe it’s time to look for new clients, or try a different sales strategy. Maybe you need to create your own volunteer opportunities. If what you’re doing isn’t working, it’s time to change what you’re doing.

Often, we take it personally when things aren’t going our way. We feel defeated, rejected, and deflated.

But the truth is, it may very well have nothing to do with you. Perhaps your boss is feeling pressure from his or her higher-ups. The potential client who rejected you may be nearly out of money. The product that’s not selling might not be a match for market demand, and with a few tweaks, you’ll see sales explode.

It’s those moments, when we reframe rejection and turn it into redirection that we prove what we’re made of. We become the master of our own destiny.

“Without change, there is no creativity, innovation, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.” –William Pollard

That’s not to say that it’s easy to change course. It takes confidence. It takes courage. It takes giving up the safety of the status quo in hopes of something better.

It also takes grace – only with grace will you leave a bad situation and turn it into something good. Say goodbye to the client in such a way that they’re still happy to give you a testimonial. Quit the job in such a way that you’ll think back on how you handled yourself with pride. Turn bad sales figures into good in such a way that you keep your integrity and honesty intact.

I’ve worked with countless clients who have recently started a new business, having left the security of the corporate world and a regular paycheck. They’re nervous about the unknown. But they’re also filled with hope.

They know this could be the career-making moment they have always wanted. They know better days are ahead of them. They know the value of their self-worth, and they’re finally expecting others to honor it.

If you’re nearing a similar moment of change in your career, here are my tips for anyone yearning for something better:

Visualize what you want.

One of the reasons we stay stuck in old habits that hold us back is that we simply stop dreaming. If you want to tap into your true potential, you must allow yourself to picture what you really desire for your business, yourself, and your family. After all, tapping into your true potential will involve real effort. To consistently put forth that effort, you need to have a clear vision of what you’re working to achieve, as well as the confidence, self-discipline, and drive necessary to make it a reality.

Plan for your goals.

Without planning, your ability to realize your potential is limited. Put together a concrete, measurable, realistic plan that lays out the action steps you need to take daily, weekly, and monthly to reach your goals. At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I preach the power of process. The fastest road to success is to ensure you implement systems that allow you to consistently work to reach your goals.

Say goodbye to the status quo.

Once you have a plan, it’s incumbent upon you to put time and resources into making that plan a reality. If you’re so bogged down by the day-to-day status quo that you can’t make time for what you want, it’s never going to happen. The new year is a perfect time to make a change, so now is the time to prepare for the changes you’re going to make. Scale back where you can. Lean on your support system. Invest your time wisely.

“Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.” –Charles de Galle

Do you need a change? Are you unsure of the steps to make it happen?

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to create a path toward your best life.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.