Rejection is Redirection

Many years ago when I was a healthcare consultant trying to pivot into the luxury spa arena, I decided to hire a career coach to help me take the leap. I was so excited about our consultation because I couldn’t wait for the gift of her insight on my situation.
Imagine my shock when the coach told me I would NEVER get hired in the hospitality industry and there was no point in me pursuing the field as I did not have the “right” experience. 😲
Well, when faced with a situation like this you have two choices. You can take their well-intentioned advice and give up on your goals, OR you can set out to prove them wrong.
Guess what I did?…..
Using the skills I learned from my management consulting career, I completed a high level assessment of the spa I intended to run. This involved me going incognito and completing a thorough mystery shop complete with a treatment and much conversation with the team members.
I then created an outline of the steps I would take as the new leader to address each of the issues and opportunities I uncovered.
The corporate director was impressed with the lengths I went to in preparation for the interview and my perceptive list of “opportunities.”
I was offered the job on the spot!
Looking back at that career coach, I realize that she did give me a gift….
One that I did not see at the time…
Her rejection inspired me to go to extra lengths for my dreams. Her rejection assisted my redirection, and I was able to make a much-desired career switch.
If I had to sum up my two key takeaways from this trip down memory lane, I would say:
1.) Do not let ANYBODY tell you what you are capable of within your career. Only you have that power.
2.) Use someone else’s lack of interest, disbelief, or rejection surrounding your dreams to FUEL YOUR PASSION. You can achieve anything that YOU believe in and will work for.
Tell me your story! Have you ever experienced rejection and turned it into redirection within your career or life?