"Rejection is a grenade" — When Shark Tank investor Daymond John shared insights about rejection 

Daymond John, an investor on Shark Tank and founder of FUBU, has described rejection, as a significant force in business and personal growth. On September 13, 2024, in a YouTube post featuring one of his event talks, he stated,

“Rejection is a grenade with the pin taken out. Give it to somebody else.”

John explained that rejection is not a permanent barrier but an opportunity for reassessment and improvement. He emphasized that understanding rejection can lead to strategic adjustments rather than discouragement.

Throughout his career, John has faced numerous setbacks but viewed them as opportunities to refine his approach. He analyzed how he communicated his message, interpreted feedback, and identified the right audience for his ideas. His insights provide a structured perspective on handling rejection constructively.

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Shark Tank Daymond John’s approach to rejection and strategic persistence

Evaluating communication after rejection

John highlighted the importance of evaluating communication when facing rejection. The Shark Tank investor stated,

“Whenever I looked at his target, I said to myself, did I communicate what I was trying to say effectively?”

The Shark Tank investor also emphasized listening as a crucial aspect of communication. He explained,

“I have one mouth and two ears. That means I listen twice as much as I was speaking.”

According to John, understanding the other person’s perspective allows for better adjustments when re-engaging with potential partners or investors. Furthermore, he considered non-verbal cues when delivering his message. He noted,

“Did I study what the person wanted? Was their body language showing me something?”

John’s approach included analyzing reactions and adjusting his strategy accordingly to improve engagement.

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Viewing rejection as a request for more information

John described the rejection as an opportunity for further clarification. The Shark Tank investor shared,

“No, to me, as the CMO of Pepsi told me one day, no to me is a request for more information.”

Instead of interpreting rejection as a final refusal, he treated it as an indication that more details or a different approach might be needed. He also discussed the importance of patience in business dealings. He stated,

“If they rejected me, then I would say, well, maybe they weren’t ready for it. They didn’t get it.”

His perspective allowed him to move forward without personalizing rejection, recognizing that timing and preparedness play a role in business decisions. In addition, John underscored the need to keep searching for the right opportunities. He explained,

“There’s somebody going to find value in what I’m doing.”

This belief guided his strategy of targeting alternative markets when major players did not initially show interest.

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Seeking the right audience for success

John shared how he approached rejection by identifying the right market for his brand. The Shark Tank investor explained,

“I didn’t go to number one, number two. I didn’t go to Nike and Ralph Lauren. I went to number 200 who wants to be number one.”

His strategy involved seeking out companies or individuals who were actively looking for growth opportunities rather than focusing solely on established industry leaders. He also expressed confidence in his ability to create value despite setbacks. The Shark Tank investor stated,

“I’m so confident in myself, if you don’t find value in me, maybe it wasn’t in the cards.”

His perspective reinforced the idea that rejection of one opportunity does not eliminate the possibility of success elsewhere. Additionally, John highlighted the importance of persistence. He stated,

“It’s not my problem though, because I’m going to keep investing in myself.”

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Watch new episodes of Shark Tank on ABC every Friday at 8 PM ET. Full episodes are available on ABC.com and streaming on Hulu.