Soul Proprietor - Don't grovel

Ever have this happen: you approach someone you admire. You may not have any agenda except to say hi. But when you reach out, they’re rude…or they ignore you completely. Crickets.

Ouch.

I’ve had that happen.

I’ll never forget the time I met someone who was “internet famous.” This was someone I looked up to. In fact, I supported their work a lot.

But when I introduced myself, she looked like she would rather be eating paint chips than have a conversation with me. She was unbelievably boorish. That was the last day I followed her work.

I can take a hint.

It’s awesome to network within your industry and outside of it. There is nothing more lovely than making connections…until you get snubbed. Suddenly, you’re wondering: what’s wrong with me? What did I do? Is my work too “weird” or something like that? You may even try to reach back to find out. Which may or may not elicit a response.

My advice: don’t take it personally. And above all, don’t grovel.

Ever.

It doesn’t matter how “big” or “popular” the person is – if they don’t want to give you the time of day, brush those shoulders off, hold your head up high, and get to stepping. You don’t have time to chase after anyone. You want to hang with people who will treat you with respect and actually like you – and your work. That’s a better feeling than kowtowing just to be accepted.

While there are always cases of people being unapproachable because they don’t dig the cut of your jib, in some cases, they are just plain busy.

This is why you can’t take it personally either. Look, I am no big wig but even I get too busy to answer every email that comes my way. If it’s not something that needs a response, it may simply get deleted. No hard feelings, ever. The person you’re trying to contact may be in that same headspace as well.

There may also come a day when you are in that same position – someone reaches out to you to partner up or because they like your work. But you don’t have time…or aren’t feeling it. You have a chance to be a class act: send out a one line email to say “hey thanks for reaching out.” That’s all it takes. Simple, easy. (Psst…I do not, however, advocate responding to crazy, demanding or mean people. They can go immediately to the trash folder.)

It doesn’t take much effort to be kind and respectful. But you should expect the same treatment back from other entrepreneurs. If a peer or other biz person is so unapproachable that you feel like you have to walk on glass to even get the dignity of a response, move on. That’s not the kind of people you want to work with. Ever.

Because you do matter and deserve respect, no matter how small or weird your business is.

Blessings,

Theresa