The first 'no'

Don't stop at the first "no". 

Of course, "no' means "no". I'm not talking about any type of consent here. 

I'm talking about the first rejection of your art, your book, whatever your project might be. Creatives of all types have to grow thick skins in terms of being told "no" as they will hear it a lot. If we give up at the first "no" we miss out on growth. We have to have faith in our art, in our skills. We have to push through the discomfort of rejection, reminding ourselves that it is just one person/one small group that have decided that our art is not for them/doesn't fit with what they are putting together. It is not a rejection of me as a person!

So let's not be too sensitive when it comes to rejection of our art.