How to take NO for an Answer

When you own your own business, you have to put yourself out there - to prospective customers, business partners, and colleagues. Not everyone is going to be ready to buy your product or join your team. You are going to get more "No's" than "Yes's" - it's just how it goes.  That's why it's really important to realize a few things so on those days where all you hear is NO that you don't give up:

1. No doesn't mean no forever, it means not right now. Everyone comes to a decision when the timing works for them.   That's one big reason follow-up skills are important. Ask the person, can I follow up with you next month? And make a note in your calendar to do so.
2. It's not personal. They aren't saying no to you. They are saying no to the product or opportunity.
3. Remember a time in your life when you told a person no, it may be in this very business you are working on now. It probably took a couple times of really thinking about it to decide to purchase or join. See things from the other side.
4. Remind yourself that every NO brings you closer to the next YES.
5. Don't STOP inviting and talking to people. It's a numbers game. If anything, the more NO's you get, the more people you should talk to.