In 2006, Stefani Germanotta finally got “the” call. She landed a deal with Def Jam records, and her musical career was about to take off. But Def Jam grew nervous about Germanotta’s eccentric flair and released her from the contract at the last minute. 

‍In the face of rejection, Germanotta spent the next two years on a musical escapade. She performed at clubs, at one point doing a variety show with DJ Lady Starlight, who introduced Germanotta to go-go dancing. 

‍It wasn’t long until Germanotta’s new and improved sound grabbed the attention of Interscope Records. The label signed her and Lady Gaga was born.

‍Rejection is something every creator (even superstars such as Lady Gaga) inevitably face in their lifetime. Although most creators are told not to be afraid of rejection, they’re rarely encouraged to purposefully visualize and seek it out.

‍Instead, imagining the finish line—those moments when you realize you’ve “made it”—is the go-to technique to stay motivated. Germanotta herself even used affirmations, repeating mantras such as, “I’m going to make a number one record with number one hits,” until it was a reality. 

‍But what if this take on rejection isn’t helpful? What if visualizing rejection—in vivid detail—is indispensable to a creator’s journey? What if embracing rejection as a whole could accelerate both our professional and personal growth?

If you want to manifest as a creator, rejection has to be involved 

‍Chances are, you’re familiar with manifesting—the notion that we can “call in'' anything we desire by visualizing it coming into our lives and believing it’s destined to happen. 

‍This idea seems frivolous at best yet I tried my hand at it many times. I’d write journal entries expressing gratitude for events that hadn’t happened yet, such as getting profiled by the CNBC’s show Millennial Money to discuss my income levels, earning my first $10,000 in a month as a creator, and working remotely from Sri Lanka. 

‍But this manifestation technique was missing a major component; it focused on the finish line but never addressed the arduous journey it would take to get there. 

‍In 2011, research from UCLA proved that participants who visualized themselves taking the difficult steps to accomplish their goals were more likely to succeed than those who only imagined positive outcomes. 

‍In other words, creators who visualize rejections along their journey such as…

‍-> The “nos” from brand sponsorships 

-> The gut-wrenching crickets after posting content online 

-> The fluctuating paychecks 

‍…have a higher chance of succeeding because they are mentally prepared to navigate those speed bumps than those who didn’t picture them happening. 

‍I like to call this technique “anti-manifestation.” Instead of wishing with all your might for success, you picture yourself going through the journey in its entirety—which includes the less glamorous parts such as debilitating rejection. 

‍Now my anti-manifestation technique revolves around rejection as a motivation to improve. I see a client saying “no” to a retainer agreement…but then imagine myself re-visiting my price strategy. I visualize my first digital product getting minimal sales...but then imagine tweaking my landing page.

‍You aren’t meant to avoid rejection. It is a tool to help you develop the mindset required to succeed in the creative field.  

If you embrace rejection it can encourage you to take creative risks 

‍But why do we avoid rejection in the first place? 

‍Humans are social animals, and we have an ingrained desire to belong. When we don’t, it goes against our biological hardwiring. MRI studies show that feelings of rejection trigger the same neural pathways that stimulate physical pain. One study even found that taking acetaminophen can reduce the emotional pain of rejection. 

‍There’s no denying the shame and disappointment rejection can deliver. But we do have the power to reframe it into something positive—just as Lady Gaga did. 

‍In Lady Gaga’s case, what saved her career was that she didn’t see rejection as a dead end. Instead, it released her from the expectations of what her music “should be” and opened a door of possibilities to further experiment. 

‍If it weren’t Def Jam’s rejection, Lady Gaga wouldn’t have met DJ Lady Starlight nor discovered the dazzling world of go-go dancing—an art form which heavily influenced her iconic choreography. 

‍A study from John Hopkins University confirmed that social rejection can indeed boost creativity. If the rejection is framed in a “normal people don’t get me and I’m meant for something better,” way, it fuels one’s motivation to explore their individuality. 

‍As a creator, rejection could perhaps be a sign that you’re on the right path. If you turn the pain into a “screw you” attitude, it acts as a green light for you to make your art, your way. As writer Saul Bellow once said, “I discovered that rejections are not altogether a bad thing. They teach a writer to rely on his own judgment and to say in his heart of hearts, 'To hell with you.'” 

Getting rejected is part the human experience, which enhances your art

One of my biggest reframes on rejection that changed my life was realizing that “it’s all material.” 

‍That phrase, coined by copywriter Cole Schafer, represents the idea that all events that happen in our lives—the mind-numbing, heart-racing, gut-wrenching—can be used to enhance our creative projects. 

‍In January 2021, I lost all three of my retainer freelance writing clients in one fell swoop. My income went from a monthly paycheck of $5,000 to a big fat zero. I didn’t expect it, and I won’t lie: The sting of rejection cut deep. ‍

‍A few months later, I had managed to recover (financially and emotionally) when I remembered Schafer's motto. It’s all material. I decided to pitch Zapier the story of how the event taught me not to take rejection personally. The company accepted the article, and it was soon syndicated on Fast Company—a significant accomplishment in my career as a writer. 

‍Rejection is just one facet of the rich kaleidoscope of the human experience. It can reveal the depth of your emotions and strengthen your spirit—two powerful drivers to create art.  

‍The idea that rejection is a bullet for you to dodge strips it from its creative potential. Rejection can be painful and embarrassing, but it can also be liberating and the launching pad for your next creative endeavor. Above all, it strengthens your mental resilience—a key trait if you’re looking to carve out a successful career as a creator. 

‍Challenge yourself to purposefully get rejected. You might be surprised that instead of a dead end, you’ll find the new doors of possibilities swing wide open to beckon you inside.