Part 1. Rejecting Rejection

Apr 25
3 min read

Updated: Jul 31

Just Another Face in the Crowd

If you were to see me on the street, you probably wouldn’t look twice. I was an ordinary office worker, leading an ordinary life, and sticking to an ordinary schedule. And yet—I had an extraordinary dream: to become a voice of influence in a world dominated by titles, fame, and picture-perfect success.

But every time I tried to share that dream, I was met with disbelief. “Even I couldn’t do that,” they’d say. “What makes you think you can?” It made me wonder—why do people project their own limitations onto others so easily? Why do they act like real success is reserved for the lucky few in books or movies?

I didn’t have the answers, but I had a conviction. Fueled by those doubts, I turned to social media. I started creating content, reaching out, and building connections with those who had defied the odds. Slowly, step by step, I began redefining what it meant to be “ordinary.”

And then came the day someone called my work “mundane.” That moment changed everything.

Mundane? Really?

I had spent nine intense years as a startup incubator. Every initiative, every founder, every investor—I gave it everything I had. But eventually, I hit a moment we all face:

"Am I truly growing—or just going in circles?"

Looking for perspective, I reached out to people I respected. One was a private equity professional from New York. After glancing at my CV, he paused and said something that hit me like a punch to the gut:

“Your resume looks mundane. Anyone could do this.”

Mundane? After nearly a decade of work I had poured my soul into?

My heart raced, but I stayed calm.

“Well… there is something I left out,” I replied.

“I created a YouTube interview series featuring biotech experts from Korea and abroad. It went viral, got picked up by a journalist, and ended up in a media article.”

Now he paused. His eyebrow lifted again—but this time, it wasn’t in judgment.

“That’s interesting. Why isn’t that on your CV?”

And in that moment, I saw it clearly. What I had dismissed as “just something I did” was actually a superpower. I had built engagement, sparked conversations, and created something people cared about.

It was time to stop hiding it. And start owning it.

A Single Line That Hit Hard

I was pouring everything I had into finding investors for the startups I incubate.

After endless cold calls and relentless efforts from every angle,

I finally managed to send an email to a partner at a well-known venture capital firm.

When her reply finally came, it read:

“This should be sent to the main inquiries address.”

Receiving this message felt like a sucker punch.

And then, a harsher reality settled in—

If it was this hard for me,how much harder must it be for the startups I work withto simply get a meeting, to prove their worth, to make someone believe in their vision?

That moment was a wake-up call—

a stark reminder that effort and sincerity alone don’t always make a difference.

I needed to do something to stand out from the other “ordinary” people out there.

That’s why I turned to social media,

posting insights on investment and tech trends.

Slowly, my posts began drawing attention from both startups and investors.

And step by step,

I started carving out a name for myself.

🔜 Up Next: Part 2. It's About Impact, Not Numbers

📘 This story is part of my journey featured in Shaken Stirred But Not Deterred Vol. 3: Celebrating the Power of Human Spirit, alongside 17 global leaders who turned adversity into power. 👉 Read the book on Amazon