It’s tragic how often we let the fear of rejection paralyze us. Before we take one step toward a goal—or even try to see what’s possible—we quit because we don’t want to be turned down.
A Princeton Lesson on the Fear of Rejection
In his best-selling book The Four Hour Work Week, author Timothy Ferriss shared a revealing experiment.
He challenged a Princeton University class to make personal contact with a seemingly impossible person—Bill Clinton, Jennifer Lopez, or even J.D. Salinger. The first student to succeed would win a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world.
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The rules were simple: anyone could submit a one-paragraph response and claim the prize. Timothy was even prepared to pay for the trip himself.
The result? Not a single student tried. Why? They assumed they couldn’t win against their classmates—so they gave up without trying. That’s the power of fear of rejection.
Never Say “No” for Other People
Here’s the truth: in the pursuit of any goal, everyone has a job.
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Your job → Dream audaciously. Act courageously. Make the ask.
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Their job → Say yes or no.
That decision is theirs—not yours.
If you’re a dreamer, you’ll have to make lots of asks. And yes, you’ll face rejection. But rejection is not failure—it’s a gift.
