In 2025, I’ve been rejected 147 times.
And have been chosen for 62 events.
Pop quiz:
Which one do I think more about?
A) The 62 wins.
B) The 147 losses.
C) None of the above.
If your guess was B… You’d be right.
I have spent 10X more time thinking about the rejection than the success.
“Why didn’t they pick me?”
“What is wrong with me?”
“Do my assets suck?”
“What am I missing?”
We focus on the misses. Which keeps us from celebrating the hits.
The truth is… One criticism weighs as much as 10 compliments.
If you’re anything like me… You spend too much time on the loss.
I’ve realized that rejection isn’t something to avoid. It is something to pursue.
Why?
Because each rejection raises your likelihood of success.
Every one of the past 5 years has been a record breaking year.
Here’s the strategy I used:
Raise the number of rejections.
The more I get told ‘NO’… The closer I am to a ‘YES’.
So for 2026, I am taking this to a new level. I am setting a rejection goal.
I want to rack up AT LEAST 200 rejections.
Why?
Because it would almost guarantee a record breaking year.
Crazy perspective? Maybe. But I think its crazy enough to actually work.
As my friend Ryan Leak says: “Chasing failure took me further than chasing success ever did.”
So in 2026… How do you plan on running toward rejection? Respond to this email and let me know!
Your friend,
Juan Bendaña
Keynote Speaker | Author of Confident By Choice
WATCH THE VIDEO ➤ https://www.Juanbendana.com
Interested in booking a keynote for 2026? Just fill out this form and we will be in touch!
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