A study was recently published by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management that reminds us what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
The study looked at scientists who were applying for research grants for their papers. They followed those who just made the cut and those who just missed it.
Ten years later, the scientists who just missed the cut were 6.1% more likely to have published a hit paper.
Which means the scientists who were rejected by the process were more likely to succeed.
This was the group that was turned down and did not get the grant money to continue their research but never stopped their quest to find answers and share them.
What didn’t kill them made them stronger.
By embracing failure, taking the lesson and persevering, they were more likely to succeed.
As Henry Ford said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
What is something we can continue to work on even though we’ve been rejected? What can we learn from the process and how can that help us grow?
Rejection is redirection. Now that we know the new path we should be following we must start walking.