APU Careers Careers & Learning

Overcoming Objection and Dealing with Discouragement

By Shun McGhee
Contributor, Career Serviceswork-silo

When pursuing career aspirations, all students look for inspiration, often from someone who has already achieved what they themselves are aiming for. One high school teacher was opposed to having the NBA’s most valuable player, Steph Curry, speak at his school, where many of the students had dreams of becoming a professional athlete. In an article, that teacher said that most of his students wouldn’t achieve that dream because many of them wouldn’t grow to Curry’s impressive 6’3” stature and none of them would have the elite training afforded to Curry by his father, an outstanding former NBA player. Ultimately, the author suggested that Curry’s presence would actually do more harm than good because his presence would provide the students with false hope.

This article made me think about the students I career coach. How could this article apply to them? At some point, they may reach out to someone to use as a sounding board for their ideas, to request resources, or for general encouragement. What happens when they are met with discouragement? In instances like this, it is important to remember the following things in order to be prepared to overcome objection.

  1. Almost everyone who has achieved a goal of significance has been told they could not do it, but they did not let that stop them.
  1. Never let other people’s opinion of you become your opinion of yourself. In life, people are going to marginalize you. This is to be expected, but do not place borders around your own success because others have.
  1. Some of the people that care about you the most will discourage you from pursuing your aspirations because, like the author of the article, they don’t want to see you hurt if you don’t make it. Remember, failure is often a precursor of success. Most of the time, you are made better for having failed.
  1. Research your career aspirations thoroughly with a combination of logic and passion, and don’t give up until you have explored every reasonable option. Use that research to come up with an appropriate plan and build your confidence in your knowledge base and direction. With it, you will know when it is time to move on or change direction.

When pursuing your career aspirations, you will undoubtedly encounter people that do not see your vision or believe you can obtain it. Do not allow their fear and doubt to transfer to you. The ability to overcome objection is just one of the many tools you need to have at the ready in your career tool box.

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