The Princess' Guide: "No" Happens

When you are passionate about something like the 3-Day, you naturally want everyone to be as passionate about it as you. Unfortunately, that's not how things work.

As hard as you try, you're not going to get everyone you know to fall in love with the 3-Day. Not even if you tell them about men dressed as fairies or wax nostalgic about the peanut butter and jelly graham cracker sandwiches.

And even if you write a gazillion fundraising letters, you aren't going to get donations from everyone you know.

Sometimes that's hard to deal with. And sometimes it's hard not to take that as a personal rejection. But you just can't do that.

Put your chin up. If they don't want to buy your pink ribbon pin or raffle ticket or cookbook or calendar, they're not saying "no" to you -- they are saying "no" to the opportunity. They aren't rejecting you, it's just that whatever it is you're offering isn't for them right now.

But don't give up on them. You never know what their situation will be in the future. Maybe they'll be more in the mood to donate in the fall. Maybe a cookbook isn't for them, but a poker night will be right up their alley. Maybe they're in the midst of fundraising for the MS 150 and need to take a breather before they can help you with your fundraiser.

It's crazy, I know. It's crazy to put yourself out there. It takes a ton of courage to ask people to support what you're doing. And it takes even more courage to keep asking over and over when people say "no." But you've got to just keep plugging away at it. You can do it!!!

And guess what? When they say "YES!" it's gonna blow you away!