Though ‘No’ might mean…

• Your proposal was not what we were looking for.
• We’ve chosen someone else for the position.
• Your price is too high.

And makes us think that:

• I’m not smart enough to create a good proposal.
• I haven’t got what it takes to get a better position.
• I’m not as good as I think I am.

When in fact it actually might have meant:

• I was too busy so I didn’t have time to fully read your proposal.
• We decided to save some money and divide the work up between other managers.
• I didn’t really understand what you just told me.

Or, maybe it just meant that the pitch didn’t work.

Written while listening to Ziggo Dome Eric Clapton concert. (2022)

Thanks to Seth Godin for the insight.