The Great Gordino Newsletter – April 9th 2015

Hi,
I hope all is well with you. This week is all about rejection, failure, and good grace…

They don’t sound like the most cheerful subjects do they, and let’s face it, they aren’t! However, you can’t make progress unless you accept the possibility of rejection/failure.

At the Men’s World Curling Championships in Canada, Thomas Ulsrud and his Norwegian team were attempting to be the first non Canadian team to win the title back to back, and in the final they faced Sweden, who they beat in last year’s final.

Both teams are well liked in the curling fraternity, thanks to combination of great play and top sportsmanship. Both teams like to smile and enjoy themselves when playing – plus of course the Norwegian have their famous loud trousers, which I have also been partial to wearing myself.

Anyway, in the final, Norway lost. To be honest they were simply beaten by a team that played better on the day, no disgrace in that, and although silver seems a let down after taking gold last year, Ulsrud took it with the good grace you’d expect.

Here’s how he delivered his last stone, knowing the title had gone…

I’ve had to say hello twice myself to my old friend rejection, in the last fortnight…

Firstly, another woman gave me a one way ticket to Dumpsville, which is never nice, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Secondly, I got rejected for a place at college. You may remember that last year I was offered a place at university, to do a 3 year degree in sports broadcasting. The problem was that I was offered the place only 3 weeks before the start date…

That would have meant upping sticks and moving in that space of time, plus as a previous university student, I wouldn’t get any loans for tuition fees. I like an adventure as much as the next man, but it felt just a little *too* much.

Also, as part of the decision making process, I had found a working sports agency that did a 1 year course. So, my thought process went that I could wait a year, do the 1 year diploma, and still be finished a year ahead of the degree course, at a much cheaper cost too.

Of course, that option depended on me getting onto the diploma course!
I went up for their exam/interview day a couple of weeks ago, and thought I had done well in all the phases of the day.

This week I got an email from them saying that I had indeed done well in both the exam and the interview, and that I showed ‘great potential’. They weren’t offering me a place though, because I had no work experience.

I have to admit, I did swear a bit when I read the email. That’s a spanner in the works.

Team Norway showed good grace as they failed in their attempt to win the world title.
I have had to show acceptance in failing to impress (another) woman, and failing to show enough to the college.

I’ve emailed the college to see what experience they had in mind, as it could yet be something I could put in place before September. I’ll have to wait and see.

Think of your own goals – is the thought of rejection/failure stopping you from even starting, or are you prepared to take the risk, on the basis that taking the risk is the *only* way to get to the adventures on the other side?

Ok, do let me know what you think, leave your feedback, and share the newsletter around if you feel anyone else might enjoy it, I’d appreciate the added exposure, thanks!

‘Til Next Time,
Health & happiness,
Gordon
P.S. I write about failure in my book. You have read my book, right?
‘Transform Your Life in 21 Days!’