When you plant bamboo, it does not grow like most other plants. During its first years, it often appears as though nothing is happening above the ground. But that does not mean the plant is inactive. Beneath the surface, it is developing a strong network of underground stems called rhizomes, from which new shoots will later emerge. It is this hidden foundation that enables bamboo to grow rapidly and form a dense grove in the years to come.
The same is true in our lives. There are times when progress is not immediately visible. Yet beneath the surface, the most important part of the process may be taking place: strengthening the foundations, expanding the roots, and preparing for what is yet to come.
When I decided to enroll in a master's program at the age of 51 and return to the classroom, you can imagine that I brought more than just a notebook and a pen with me. I also carried a lifetime of experiences. Around me are classmates ranging from their twenties to their fifties - and I have to say, it is wonderful. There is always something new to learn, and now I am only two exams away from completing my first year.
A recent moment during one of our lectures made me reflect deeply on the value of age and professional experience. Our professor asked the class a simple question: “How do you react when you hear ‘NO’ in sales?” She shared her own story and admitted how difficult rejection had been for her throughout her sales career. As I listened to her and looked at the faces of my classmates, I realized something important: that word has never troubled me. For me, 'NO' rarely means never. Most often, it simply means: not yet.
It simply means that the situation is not yet ready, that the pieces of the puzzle have not yet fallen into place. It is a temporary condition, not a permanent verdict. I realized that this perspective has made life much easier for me. When you do not take rejection personally, you save an enormous amount of energy. This mindset has also given me a significant advantage in business. When clients said “no,” my managers would often become concerned or ask for explanations. Over time, however, I taught them to see things from my perspective - that “no” is often only a temporary state. They learned to trust my instincts and experience. They understood that just because a door is closed today does not mean we will not walk through it when circumstances change. Eventually, they stopped questioning my approach because they saw that patience and composure produce results over the long term.
Later, when I became a manager myself, I passed this same mindset on to my younger colleagues. I encouraged them to see the bigger picture because it would make things easier for them personally and free them from the pressure of feeling that every situation must be resolved positively immediately and at all costs.
History offers a remarkable example of someone who understood that a temporary “NO” can lead to eventual victory. In 218 BC, when the powerful Hannibal invaded Italy during the Second Punic War and threatened Rome, the Roman general Fabius Maximus - later nicknamed Cunctator, meaning “The Delayer” - recognized that a direct confrontation would be suicidal. Instead of engaging in open battle, he chose to wear down his opponent and buy Rome time until circumstances became more favorable. His approach later became known as the Fabian strategy. My explanations to my managers that a client's “no” was only temporary were, in a way, my own version of a Fabian strategy - the recognition that victory should not be forced when the timing is not right.
If you receive a rejection today -whether in business, sales, or your personal life, remember this: People rarely reject you. More often, they reject the timing, the circumstances, their priorities, or the risks they perceive. Like bamboo, some things grow unseen for a long time before they become strong, resilient, and remarkable.
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