Something I’ve been sitting with lately:

The rejection never really gets easier to hear. After years of this career, I’m not sure it should.

But what I’ve figured out is that most nos aren’t what you think they are in the moment. There’s the timing no. The taste no. And then the one that’s actually about your work — which is rare, and also the only useful one.

The mistake is hearing any of them and assuming it’s the last kind.

New piece up this week on learning to tell the difference — and on why “toughen up” is the worst possible advice anyone can give you about rejection.