The Ocean of Rejection (and How to Stay Afloat)

Yesterday in the Shatter Lounge, we grabbed our metaphorical floaties and waded into a topic most salespeople avoid like cold water: rejection.

We explored the Ocean of Rejection—the idea that success in sales doesn’t come from dodging “no,” but from learning how to stay buoyant when the no’s inevitably come rolling in.

I’ll be honest with you: when rejection hits me, I don’t always handle it with grace.

Sometimes I slam my keyboard.

Sometimes I scream into a pillow.

(Yes, I have a bit of a mean streak.)

But here’s what I’ve learned: I give myself a moment to feel the sting—to be angry, disappointed, annoyed. And then, I pivot. I shift into:

“What is this teaching me?”

“How can this help me grow?”

That’s what we talked about in the Lounge—how to ride the waves instead of letting them pull you under.

Here are the 3 mindset shifts we practiced:

☑️ Ask: Is it Personal, Permanent, or Pervasive?

Most rejections aren’t about you. They’re not forever. And they’re not proof that everything is broken. Naming the distortion helps you stop the spiral.

☑️ Embrace & Enumerate

What if rejection was something to track and celebrate? We talked about logging every “no” as a step toward the eventual “yes.” Because if you’re not getting rejected, you’re probably not in enough conversations.

☑️ Shift Your Self-Talk: Interrogative > Declarative

Instead of telling yourself, “I blew it,” ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” One opens a door. The other slams it shut.

✨ Here’s the big takeaway:

Rejection is information, not identity.

It doesn’t define you—it refines you.

We had a few laughs, a few deep nods, and a lot of “OMG, me too” moments during this session. And whether you were in the Lounge or not, I hope this gives you a glimpse of the kind of support and honesty we’re building together.

Here’s to staying buoyant—rage pillows and all.