Making The Cut

On dealing with rejection

I applied for a prime opportunity with a notable public figure this past week, and the process was enlightening.

In fact, I might say that I learned quite a bit in getting passed over.

Have you dealt with a competition to get in recently?

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The offer

It was an incredible offer – Seth Godin, best-selling author, and a pretty intelligent guy, was looking for a few people to work with him on a new project.

So he turned to the net and his internet followers (or tribe) to find them.

All that the interested parties had to do was answer a few questions in an online form, and Seth would sort through them…

Quite a form

And I realized how interesting the project would be by the questions asked.

I figured each question was geared to finding out about the individual and the way they communicated, so I took my time in answering them.

The tough question

Each of the questions took me to a place to figure out a little bit about myself – what you read, where you’re going, projects and teams you’ve worked with.

The one that was most interesting to me – was on getting picked: “What’s the most demanding/exclusive application process you’ve ever been through? Who picked you and why?”

And my answer might surprise you…

3rd grade, kickball at recess

The application process was based on who you knew and your resulting popularity, how fast you’d grown to that point in your life, how coordinated you were, and the strength of your legs.

As someone in the less-than-10% size category, I was hardly allowed to participate with the boys. So the girls picked me, and I had a great time with them.

And that’s the way it was

I wasn’t trying to outsmart the test, but after wracking my memories for a situation that was demanding, I had to go that far back before getting to one that was tough. I realized that since being rejected in third grade for no good reason, I’ve never really done anything that required a close preference or popularity.

Oh sure – I’ve been picked – but it was hardly ever close, or I didn’t really care if I was or not.

No gnashing of teeth or wringing of hands.

And that’s interesting…

Passed over

Seth revealed the numbers – over 600 submissions for a small handful of spots. He took 12 to cut down from, and I didn’t make that list.  (That’s 2% of the submissions;-)

From those twelve he’ll find three or so – less than a half a percentage of the people that expressed an interest.

I don’t mind missing that cut, even if the opportunity of working with Seth was once in a lifetime.

Looking inwards

And the really nice part of that process – of being forced to evaluate myself (and find a way to write about it in an interesting manner) – was a gift to me, even though I didn’t get to move on.

And that’s a really nice position to be in.

Have you ever been rejected and felt good about it?-)