I got the email last week. You know the one. “Thanks but your proposal hasn’t been selected”. It stung a little. I shed a few tears and went to the schedule and let my ego do the talking: “What they got a gig, and I didn’t? Now that is not fair”
And then I got back to work.
You see submitting a proposal was a business decision. Sure I wanted to get that euphoric buzz from speaking and I also wanted to give back to my community. But to be fair, it was also to promote my business.
How Speaking Can help your Business
Charlie Gilkey of Productive Flourishing explains that a business activity can generate cashflow, opportunities and visibility. I was hoping that a speaking opportunity would:
- Improve visibility – be known by a wider audienc
- Create opportunities – show my background and experience in online experience
- Develop more cashflow opportunities – become connected with more clients.
The silly thing is my three goals can still be achieved just as well by attending Blogworld as a participant. And a participant I will be since I booked my flights from Australia to New York the first week Blogworld Registration opened.
So now I have been working on some ways to still achieve my goals, without speaking. Ideas include:
- Being open to meeting some great people – in person. I am looking forward to geeking it out for a couple of days talking blogging and social media
- Being on the lookout for opportunities to work with others
- Attending many talks to improve my knowledge base
- Learning from the speakers – not just their content, but the way they conduct themselves when speaking and connecting with others
But that still leaves the Blogworld Proposal and some solid online education advice sitting on my hard drive with nowhere to go.
What am I to do with it?
Well Baker from Man vs Debt said it best “Rejection is part of the game people – don’t let it stop you!” So come back later in the week. I will give you my Blogworld Proposal and access to the information I was hoping to teach in New York.
It won’t be the same as teaching in person, but it will still be just as much fun.
PS – If you have any Blogworld tips, please add them below.
Thank you for a great post Ainslie. Thank you for understanding we simply do not have the space to accept every great proposal. Thank you for taking it so well (not everyone does) and for turning it into a positive. Please send me a link to that post when it goes live so im sure not to miss it.
Please come and say hello in New York. I am sincerely looking forward to meeting you in person.
warmest regards,
rick
Hi Rick,
Thanks for stopping by and I will be sure to say G’day when I see you in New York. It just isn’t my style to “take my bat and ball and go home” (maybe that is an Aussie reference but you should get it)
Ainslie
Love baseball and we use that expression here; although yours comes from cricket yes?
Yes Cricket!
That must have stung. And also, how cool that you’ll be able to share it, ultimately by a larger audience out here.
You’ll have chances to speak. I’m sure of it.
Bridget it hurt more because I am a half full type of gal – I always assume life will go my way. But yes, I can still share with a bigger audience.
Thanks for your support
So proud of you, Ainslie – and I can’t wait to learn more from you!
And I can’t wait to share LaVonne
May I have the same positive attitude when I get rejected for something.
I’m sure you’ll do well with your aims at BlogWorld – wish I was going to be there to see it.
Hi Ryah – The upside of not speaking is that I can enjoy myself more at Blogworld – won’t have to stress about speaking.
Hey Ainslie!
I love how your flipping the outcome of this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what you’ll unveil, but even more than that, I can’t wait to meet you in-person.
Hi Marlee
Thanks for stopping by – I hope to see you as well
Ainslie