How to Handle Rejection and Criticism as a Creative Entrepreneur

We’ve all faced a little rejection and criticism as entrepreneurs, haven’t we? If you haven’t, you’re a unicorn. Learning how to handle rejection and criticism comes with the job.

I like to think I have pretty tough skin, but sometimes, a few words of criticism can really get to me. I ruminate and overthink it, and it affects my mental health. Along my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve learned better ways of handling rejection and criticism. It doesn’t come naturally, but you can practice it to become better at it.

I want to share some things that have helped me not take rejection and criticism personally. I hope they help you, too!

Understanding the Nature of Rejection and Criticism

First, let’s talk about the difference between rejection and criticism. 

Rejection is getting denied something; it’s hearing the word ‘no’ in some way. It could be a rejected proposal, a client saying no to a request, not booking a speaking gig, getting an email unsubscribe, or an unsuccessful launch. In some way or another, you’ve been rejected.

Criticism, on the other hand, means you’ve received direct negative feedback. It could be either constructive criticism, which you can use to improve, or harsh criticism, which often feels more personal and hurtful. I’ll talk about this more in a minute!

I think we’ve all been rejected and received criticism as entrepreneurs. These words can be tough to hear, but they are opportunities to grow and improve. Or sometimes you just have to shake it off and move on (been there!) Not all feedback is helpful feedback.

Mindset Shifts for How to Handle Rejection

The biggest thing that’s helped me reframe my mindset around how to handle rejection is detaching my self-worth from other people’s choices. And I totally know that this is extremely hard to do. I’m not perfect at it, but it helps to remind myself that they are making decisions for themselves and it isn’t personal. We can both move on with our lives knowing it’s for the best.

I’m a spiritual person, and I’ve learned to see rejection as redirection. There’s a reason opportunities don’t work out. I believe God is looking out for me and removing people from my life who will do more harm than good. It’s best not to dwell on what could have been and move on to something better.

We’ve all heard of adopting a growth mindset, which also applies to rejection. You learn something every time you hear no. Maybe you learn what you should (or shouldn’t) say in a discovery call after getting a rejected proposal. Maybe you will learn how to align your offers to your audience after a failed launch. You’re ALWAYS learning something new from rejection if you have that mindset.

Constructive vs. Destructive Criticism

Okay, let’s talk about criticism now. There are two types: constructive criticism and destructive criticism. Recognizing each one will help you as you grow as a business owner.

Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism is something you can learn from. You hear, accept, and apply someone’s feedback. It’s not always nice to hear, but you understand where they’re coming from. You can make changes to your processes, messaging, or something else as a response. It’s helpful to hear this feedback because it’s making you better.

Destructive Criticism

Destructive criticism is meant to hurt you. It will feel harsh when you receive it. It might be something like, “This advice is terrible,” “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” or, “It’s amazing you have any clients.” It can sometimes spark impostor syndrome, but it’s completely unnecessary feedback. It’s the type of feedback that makes you think, “That should have been an inside thought,” ya know?! 

Quick Note on Social Media Criticism

Criticism often appears on social media. The comments section and DMs can get WILD when people think they can say anything behind a screen. It makes me sad, actually, because someone will leave a hurtful comment and move on with their day, while the person who receives it can ruminate over it for a long time. We need to be intentional about the things we say to other people!

Well, that was a tangent I didn’t intend to go on, but it was worth mentioning.

How to Receive Criticism

ANYWAY, when you receive criticism, ask yourself this question: Is this person qualified to give me feedback? Lots of people feel like they can share their opinions, but are they actually qualified and knowledgeable enough to respond with a differing opinion?

This can help you shake things off when you receive negative feedback. If they aren’t an expert in your field, who are they to come at you? If they are, you can have a friendly debate with them (if you want to.)

I typically don’t respond to criticism from people I don’t know. It’s not worth arguing with someone who just wants to be hurtful. If it’s from a client or someone in my network, I take a little time to digest and respond in a kind way. I don’t want to stoop to their level and get defensive.

Strategies for Processing Rejection and Criticism

Taking time to process what you’ve read or heard is SO important. You never want to react immediately because it’s more likely to come off as defensive, aggressive, or hurtful. So that’s step one: pause. Take a minute, come back to it later, or don’t respond at all.

If the rejection or criticism is from someone you know and trust, you can ask clarifying questions to better understand their feedback. I wouldn’t do this with strangers; it probably won’t lead anywhere good.

Then, turn the rejection and criticism into action. See if there’s anything you can improve or learn from based on this feedback. One of the positive things about rejection and criticism is that you can use it as creative fuel. You have a drive to prove them wrong! 

You Are Strong!

You build resilience over time through exposure to rejection and criticism. I know it isn’t always easy to hear it, but you grow as a person and business owner as you learn how to handle rejection and criticism. So, next time you receive rejection or criticism, look at it as a learning opportunity. Unless it’s meant to be hurtful, then forget ‘em 😉