“We took our idea [for the computer] to a few companies, one where Woz worked [Hewlett-Packard] and one where I worked at the time [Atari]. Neither one was interested in pursuing it, so we started our own company.” Steve Jobs
Apple Computer started after Atari and HP said, “No.” It’s dumb to desire rejection. but imagine what might not have happened if Hewlett-Packard said yes.
Apple Computer started after Atari and HP said, “No,” to Jobs and Wozniak. Image of the Apple logo.
“No” moves you forward when:
#1. It clarifies motivation.
“The reason we [Woz and I] built a computer is that we wanted one, and we couldn’t afford to buy one.” Steve Jobs
Jobs and Woz did what they wanted to do.
Pressures at work cause forgetfulness. You lose motivation when you forget what you want to do. Even if you don’t like work, it’s good to remember it’s fulfilling to provide for people you love.
Sometimes you don’t know what you want until you can’t have it.
#2. It eliminates possibilities.
I love options, but the easiest way to move forward is to have only one path to follow.
Possibilities paralyze people. Skilled sales people give you either/or decisions. Do you prefer X or Y? Jobs and Woz started Apple because other options didn’t work.
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” Warren Buffett
#3. It prompts innovation.
People tell you what won’t work. Innovation begins when you say, “But what might work?”
Rejection is redirection.
#4. It ignites learning.
Knowers don’t learn. Learning begins with, “I don’t know.” Sometimes when people say, “I don’t know,” I say, “But if you did know…”
A closed door is an invitation to learn.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
What are some advantages to rejection?
What are the best ways to respond to a door closing?
Still curious:
3 Ways to Respond to Failure: Get a Bigger Nail
How to Face Resistance to Your Great Ideas
I invite you to check out our book, The Vagrant.
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This post was previously published on leadershipfreak.blog under a Creative Commons License.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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