Rejection and loss are part of the process. "In Stephen King’s book On Writing, he says he pinned every rejection letter he received to his wall with a nail. “By the time I was fourteen,” he continues, “the nail in my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing.”"
"Indeed." I get coaching job postings regularly from Indeed. As a physician, I'm not applying for any, because I can't make the time commitment. But you can!
I share the imaginary rejection letters from a handful, because they reflect my shortcomings.
MIT (Women's Basketball Coach)
Dear Dr. Sen,
We're MIT. Do you think we're stupid? No.
Boston University (Men's Basketball Coach)
Dear Coach Sen,
We respect and value Alumni and their contribution to the University. However, your lack of experience above the Middle School level makes evaluating your application difficult. At best we grade you, "Incomplete." Nothing to see here.
Tufts University (Men's Basketball Coach)
Dear Dr. Sen,
We appreciate your interest in the Tufts Men's Basketball coaching job. Your resume' does not support experience in recruiting or coaching college athletes, leading and managing student-athletes and coaches, or developing and managing a University program and budget. Thank you.
Bedford High School (Varsity Girls Basketball Coach)
Dear Coach Sen,
Thank you for your interest in the Bedford Athletic Department. We do not find your experience and background a good fit for our program. (Not included... "we don't think someone your age should be driving on the highway regularly in the dark.")
Lasell College (Assistant Women's Basketball Coach)
Dear Coach Sen,
We invite your attention to the job posting, "Previous coaching and/or experience at the collegiate level is strongly preferred." Ha ha ha ha ha ha. (Note, fewer 'ha ha' comments would sting less.)
Wakefield High School (Unified Basketball Coach)
Dear Dr. Sen,
We note with interest your unusual qualifications for this position, graduation from our institution, a doctoral degree, former Assistant Professor of Medicine at Uniformed Services University, twenty years coaching experience, authoring a book on girls' basketball, and membership in both the WHS High School Hall of Fame and Athletic Hall of Fame.
We have filled this position but would appreciate your interest in future positions.
Lagniappe. Baylor overwhelmed Gonzaga with aggressiveness, athleticism, toughness, AND skill. The best team won.
Lagniappe 2. "Every day is player development day." "The 95" is what you're doing the 95 percent of the time you don't have the ball.