We often psych ourselves out of opportunities and relationships because we’re afraid of being told “no.” But what if we saw those potential “no”s as steppingstones to achieving our wildest dreams?
Gabriella Carr is on a mission to get rejected 1,000 times and has documented her journey on social media since last year. As a result, Gabriella has amassed thousands of followers, been featured in The New York Times and CNBC, and started a trend of people documenting their own rejections.
In my conversation with Gabriella, we talk about reframing rejection, pursuing multiple passions without burning out, and pushing past discomfort to pursue your dreams. Gabriella encourages her followers to pursue their dreams even at the risk of seeming delusional. She says, “Chasing your dreams is not the time to be playing it safe.”
Tune into my conversation with Gabriella Carr to learn more about reframing rejection on the Find Your Passion Career Podcast!
Make Rejection a Game
Gabriella was in a slump as a content creator, entrepreneur, and aspiring actress last September. “I wasn’t booking auditions, I was losing followers, and I was failing with my business.”
Before officially giving up, Gabriella decided to gamify rejection. Her goal? Being rejected 1,000 times and documenting each rejection on social media along the way.
Gabriella’s journey has changed her view of rejection. Every “no” is one step closer to her goal, and every “yes” is a sign to keep trying.
“It kind of becomes a game,” she says. “How many ‘no’s can I get? What else can I get rejected from?”
This idea quickly went viral.
“I’ve always wanted to go viral and become a big content creator, but I never imagined it would be in this way,” she says. “I wouldn’t have chosen anything else to be known for.”
Gabriella’s rejection game has given her the confidence to seek out opportunities for voice acting, modeling campaigns, and even attending Coachella as a content creator. Though this hasn’t made her immune to the pain of rejection, she refuses to let fear stop her. She always asks herself, “If I never tried, would I regret that more than the feeling of rejection?”
Instead of viewing rejection as a sign to pivot or stop, take it as a sign that you’re bold enough to pursue what you want despite the consequences.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
The rejection challenge has helped Gabriella get multiple brand and acting deals, become an ambassador for Metropolitan Theatres, and even attend the 2026 Winter Olympics. It’s also taught her that sharing your dreams can be a steppingstone to accomplishing them. For example, Gabriella went to the Olympics because a follower offered to host her in Italy after she mentioned that dream in a video.
“It shows how much people want to help you,” she says. “There are so many good people on this earth who genuinely want to help each other.”
Gabriella is one of those people. If her friends or followers reach out to her for social media advice, she’s more than happy to assist.
Look at people who are one step ahead of you in your dream career path and ask them for advice. You may be surprised how much they want to help you.
On Feeling Unqualified
Gabriella is no stranger to doubting herself. She remembers attending a pageant, being asked to help the contestants choose their dresses, and feeling nervous because of her lack of fashion expertise. Fortunately, she channeled her inner confidence and happily cheered the contestants on.
Gabriella believes that people often underestimate how qualified they are. She also notes that waiting to feel qualified before pursuing your dreams doesn’t work—there will always be people equally or more capable than you.
“We wait for so many things until we think we’re ready,” she says. “The longer you wait, the more you’re going to scare yourself.”
Faking it until you make it isn’t deceptive, and you’ll eventually gain the confidence that you’re pretending to have. On the other hand, waiting until you feel confident could take the rest of your life. Which one seems better to you?
After listening to Gabriella’s story, one lesson is clear: rejection is important to embrace as you pursue your dreams. Just like Gabriella, the more you embrace rejection, the more you will achieve. To tune into the full interview, download the episode here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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