Like a Fish to the Face

Laura Williams came across a quote recently which she described as being ‘like a slap to the face with a fish’. Here, she explains how rejection can colour our perspective – and why it’s time to toss that sort of thinking back into the ocean

“A person who has experienced rejection fears rejection, and a person that fears rejection tends to push or run away before they can be rejected. In their subconscious, they have avoided rejection. In reality, they’ve been rejected again, this time by themselves.”

Are You Pulling Back?

It made me think about how often we pull back because we’re bracing for something to go wrong. With budget cuts looming like a rainy qualifying session, tricky staffing issues popping up like yellow flags and initiatives that look good on paper but handle like a nightmare in the corners, it can feel like we’re constantly strapped in, bracing for the next chicane, hoping we won’t spin out.

But here’s the thing: when we hold back out of fear, we’re not shielding ourselves from anything. We’re just closing doors on ourselves.

The rejection we worry about becomes our reality, not because someone else turned us down, but because we never gave ourselves the shot in the first place. So, is there something you’ve been holding back on because you’re worried it won’t go to plan?

Maybe it’s that tough conversation you keep dodging, a project gathering dust in the “later” pile, or an idea you haven’t put out there because, deep down, you’re worried it’ll flop instead of fly?

Take the Wheel

If the answer’s yes, I get it. Let that feeling hang for a second. Acknowledge it, but don’t let it grab the wheel. Breaking the cycle starts with recognising when it creeps in. Instead, push yourself just a little bit outside of your comfort zone: speak up in that meeting, pitch that idea you’ve been hanging on to or put your hand up and ask for help.

We’re SBLs. We’re the ones who make stuff happen. But that also means giving ourselves room to grow, to mess up here and there, without letting fear set our course.

You’ve got the guts and grit to push through so don’t let the fear of rejection hold you back from what you’re capable of.

Lean into it, take that first step and trust that you’re ready for whatever comes next.

Here’s to dodging the fish, ditching the fear and daring to be brave.

Want to Power Up Your Latest Idea?

If this resonates with you and you’re ready to embrace a more confident, forward-thinking version of yourself, why not join us at one of our EdExec LIVE events this year? With eight events across the country, there’s sure to be one near you. Each event provides a great opportunity to connect with fellow SBLs, exchange ideas, discuss initiatives and gain valuable insights from peers. Don’t miss out – take the first step and sign up today!