I recently stumbled upon a video on LinkedIn and learned about AsrorJon Shukurov, his business and how going for no helped him achieve his goals. I reached out and asked if he would share his story.Ā
To catch you up, AsrorJon is from the Soviet Union (read his entire story unedited here) and decided to try his luck in America.Ā
Here's the rest of his story:Ā
In 2005, I landed at JFK Airport with just $200 and a bag of clothes.Ā
My dream of a new life was
quickly tainted by an employer who not only was driven by greed but also imposed conditions that felt akin to modern-day slavery. Thankfully, with help from a cousin in Baltimore, I escaped these oppressive circumstances and started over, now free to choose my own path. However, I soon realized that all my previous knowledge was useless.Ā
Having studied
English and aiming to become a teacher like my parents, I faced a stark reality: I couldnāt teach English to Americans who spoke it better than I ever could. This is when I learned how to clean toilets and mop floors with a smile on my face.
Over time, things got better, with nicer friends and fairer employers.
In 2009, I startedĀ Interworld Cleaning, running everything myself, including salesāa skill I had never learned or been taught. As my business grew, so did the number of rejections. Each 'no' hurt my self-esteem and reminded
me that I was still an outsider.
In a painful pursuit of turning things around, I discovered "Go For No."Ā
This book was transformational. It taught me that each rejection was not a step back but a step
forward, conditioning me to persevere rather than retreat. It taught me to embrace and celebrate 'no.' It taught me to place myself in circumstances where I would actually get more 'nos.'Ā
But that meant I was taking more action.Ā
More action = more rejections = (learn/pivot) = more yesses = success.
Embracing the word 'no' reshaped not only my business strategies but also my personal life, allowing me to approach new relationships and opportunities with confidence rather than fear.
Today, I share this approach with every new salesperson at Interworld Cleaning, giving them "Go For No" as a guide.Ā
This mindset has not only propelled my company to new heightsāincluding receiving the SBA's 2023 Maryland Minority Small Business Person of the YearĀ Awardābut has also enriched my personal life.Ā
I learned to dream big, take big actions, and increase impact. IĀ authored 'The Immigrantās Companion: Making Your American Dream a Reality',Ā teach SBDC Maryland classes on how to āStart and Scale 7 Figure Cleaning Businessā, and share my knowledge on my
YouTubeĀ channel.Ā
How did an immigrant with $200 and a bag of clothes achieve so much? It was my drive, my refusal to give up, my relentless pursuit of the American dream, and the
mentors and strategies I learned along the way, such as those from "Go for No." - AS
What a story!Ā
If you're anything like me, when you read that story you are both inspired and also reminded that what
you go through day to day isn't that tough. š¬ Ā
With that said, get out there and make it a great, Go for No day!Ā