100 Days of Rejection: How Embracing ‘No’ Changed Everything

Win Monday with Paul Epstein

What if facing rejection head-on could actually transform your life? Most of us shy away from rejection, fearing the discomfort and self-doubt that tag along. But imagine if your greatest personal growth was waiting just past that fear.

In this episode, host Paul chats with Jia Jiang, bestselling author and global speaker behind the viral TEDx talk, What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection. Through his “rejection therapy” journey, where he actively sought rejection for 100 days, Jia reshaped his perspective, turning rejection into an opportunity for growth and discovery. Together, they dive into the power of ambition, discipline, and resilience, encouraging you to step boldly toward your dreams—regardless of potential setbacks.

Ready to transform rejection from a roadblock into a stepping stone? Tune in and find out how.

Key Takeaways

• Overcoming the fear of rejection through a project called "rejection therapy."
• Personal journey and experiences related to seeking rejection for 100 consecutive days.
• The impact of rejection on personal and professional aspirations.
• The importance of asking questions and engaging with others after facing rejection.
• The role of ambition, discipline, and resilience in achieving personal goals.
• Transformative experiences that led to unexpected opportunities.
• The significance of sharing personal stories to inspire others.
• Practical examples of turning rejection into collaborative problem-solving.
• Encouragement to take actionable steps toward personal growth and opportunities.
• Viewing rejection as a stepping stone toward success rather than a failure.

In This Episode:

• [00:03] Introduction to rejection
• [00:20] Welcoming Jia Jiang
• [01:14] Jiang's origin story
• [02:18] The start of rejection therapy
• [03:03] Creative rejection attempts
• [03:43] Lessons learned from rejection
• [04:04] Current feelings about rejection
• [05:06] Understanding reactions to rejection
• [06:59] Engaging after rejection
• [13:45] Toastmasters experience
• [15:34] Recognition from Toastmasters
• [16:01] Transition to ambition discussion
• [16:48] Memorable rejection therapy moments
• [17:11] Krispy Kreme Olympic rings
• [19:35] The dream of teaching
• [20:14] Overcoming barriers to teaching
• [21:03] Taking initiative to teach
• [22:04] The impact of guest lecturing
• [23:20] Ambition and flaws
• [24:42] The power of ambition
• [25:21] Three controllable factors for success
• [26:25] The role of ridiculous ambition
• [27:11] Ambition as a guiding force
• [28:25] The journey of ambition
• [29:37] Encouragement to think bigger
• [30:16] Finding Jiang online
• [30:44] Actionable tip for winning Monday

Notable Quotes

• [00:04:04] "Rejection today is like my friend or almost like my other life partner. I still quarrel with it sometimes. I still have fear with it, but it's so much different than my relationship with rejection a long time ago." — Jia Jiang
• [00:18:27] "How many donut moments have I missed in my life just because I thought there’s no way I would get it? We reject ourselves way too many times before we even try because we fear potential embarrassment and impossibility." — Jia Jiang
• [00:27:11] "When I was in the darkest time, I didn't give up and never lost sight and never lost my faith in myself and in what I was trying to accomplish." — Jia Jiang
• [00:28:44] "Even for somebody like me that has been called ambitious and has leaned into ambition, you have made me more ambitious. I don't care if it's crazy to everybody else in the world; we're going to attack it." — Paul

Our Guest

Jia Jiang is an entrepreneur, TED speaker, and author known for his transformative journey through "Rejection Therapy," a project he adopted after seeking 100 rejections in 100 days. His experience with rejection has shaped his mission to help others face their fears and embrace rejection as a stepping stone to personal growth. Jia advocates for turning rejection into opportunity, using it to fuel ambition and resilience. His work includes speaking engagements, workshops, and products designed to help people overcome fear and unlock their potential.

Resource & Links

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Paul Epstein

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Jia Jiang

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Mentioned

• TEDx Talk: What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection
• Rejection Proof
• 10x Is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less