How I Keep Asking After No

Last updated on October 1st, 2014 at 03:49 pm

Remember my post from last week, Multiple Streams Of Income – Do Kids Count, about my son and his entrepreneurial quest?

He is kicking butt.

His fashion blog has  photos now (thanks to Ray’s photography).  Several girls have commented on his photos on MySpace, some quite graphically, on how he looks for his “Edward” shots. You know, Edward from Twilight?

I’m just catching up having read all the books in a 2 week time frame, but the girls are sooooo already there. It doesn’t help that he has his shirt off.

I learned a very interesting lesson today from my son. Jake has been designing graphic designs for t-shirts for 2 years and has shared them with friends regularly. Apparently he shared some of his designs in the notebook he keeps with him at all times.

His French teacher was one of the recent viewers.

Enjoy this concept of 6-degrees (or less) of separation.

His French teachers’ son-in-law is a professional skateboarder, Jake’s fashion demographic.

This kid is sponsored by Adidas and Volcom and after hearing about Jake’s designs, said he would show his sponsors Jake’s designs  – if  – Jake can get a portfolio together by Friday.

Guess what I will be doing until 4 am tomorrow night?

This kid is a natural marketer.

Where does this leave me in MY entrepreneurial quest for multiple streams of income?

By contrast –

I have been hearing a lot of  No’s lately when it comes to my recent endeavors. No on contracts. No on my body being ready to train for Bay-to-Breakers. No on a mediation litigation I had high hopes would be resolved today.

I keep asking, calling, emailing and planning. The trick now is finding out what is working, and for whom. Phone calls for my older clients are better than email. Email is best for my busy clients, since I can never get them on the phone.

So far I am avoiding texting with any of them. I’m not sure I can commit to an instant message scenario with any client. I would never get anything done.

Not to mention scheduling time for myself to meditate and to walk – you know – that whole self-care bit.

So here I am after a discouraging day reminding myself to KEEP ASKING. Its not  that no – just the next YES I am striving for.

William Blake once said, “Mistakes are easy, mistakes are inevitable, but there is no mistake so great as the mistake of giving up.”

As a business owner, we face rejection and the word, no more often then we’d like.

No is part of being in business and we have to understand it is OK to hear it. It is OK because after we understand that most potential prospects have been approached by others – sometimes many times before, failed in a similar approach to an opportunity, or are just closed-minded to what we have to offer.

Rejection is tough though!

It is in our human nature to dislike rejection. As a business owner our business is part of who we are. We cannot let anyone or anything discourage us from pressing on. I understand that success follows persistence, and many times, failure. I cannot let someone else’s opinion of my service stop me and my business from being successful.

So what do I do now?

Continue to believe my business and entrepreneurial ventures. Continue letting the naysayers reject me with their No’s. I have to press on. Eventually I will win. This is my job. I am doing this for me and my family. I am in the boxing ring. I expect to be knocked down.  Anything worth doing takes time, effort, and a certain amount of NO!

Before the yeses start flooding  in.

Off to polish off that bottle of wine with my husband – thank goodness for him . . .  cheers!

–Heather

(Heather’s dream is to have multiple streams of income, starting with launching an e-commerce website that showcases her one-of-a-kind designer jewelry, which are crafted by her.  Heather’s post day is Thursday and her newly launched sites are couture jewelry available through For Your Adornment, and  Twitter background design on Twitter And Beyond)

DREAM GOAL:  $25,000 A MONTH FROM 6 SOURCES OF INCOME BY NOVEMBER 01, 2010 and WALK/RUN THE BAY TO BREAKERS WITH 8 WOMEN DREAM MAY 16 2010