Who owns that voice in my head?

I received my first publisher rejection notice this week from the nicest man in the world. My book topic is too specific for the portfolio, however, the proposal was promising and I received some great new contacts to explore. Of all the rejections I may receive, this one will be the best.

My "look on the bright side" perspective is opposite  to how I interpreted not getting a call back from a friend of a friend who works at a publishing house. As the weeks slipped by, I slid from "she is busy" to "she isn't interested" to "she hates me." I was aghast when I noticed last night that my email had bounced back and not been delivered. Why did the voice in my head go to the dark side? Why did it move me to the darkest part of the dark side? Why didn't I check my delivery failure folder? Who owns that negative voice in my head?


I own that voice in my head and am accountable for my perspectives, emotions, and actions. Negativity drains your energy and slows you down. It nudges you off course and blocks your creativity.  I am putting the following mechanisms  in place so this doesn't happen again.

• Check my delivery failure folder to make sure my email was received
• Use more than one method of contact (email, phone, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Communicate when and how I will make contact again ("I will follow up/call you next week...")
• Record each communication and follow up date on my calendar
• Increase the number of contacts to gain momentum and lessen the impact of each one
• Assume positive intent

The last one is the most powerful and attacks the negative voice at it's core. It's an ongoing battle.

Phil