In a recent LinkedIn post, Steven Bartlett offers a candid look at the extensive rejection and embarrassment that preceded his well-known television appearances on shows like Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank USA. The media personality and entrepreneur shared his journey, emphasizing that the public often only sees the successes, not the numerous setbacks involved.
Bartlett begins by contrasting the public perception of his career with the private reality, highlighting the gap between announcements and the arduous path to achieving those milestones. He points out the selective nature of what is shared publicly, stating:
“Online, that’s the story you saw – two announcements a few years apart! But behind them is a whole lot of rejection and embarrassment I’ve never talked about”
The Early Rejection: From Junior Apprentice to Dragons’ Den Dreams
The entrepreneur traces his early experiences with rejection back to his teenage years. Bartlett recounts his audition for Junior Apprentice at age 16, a process that involved significant travel and multiple rounds of auditions. Despite progressing, a seemingly minor incident involving revealing his full name led to disqualification, a moment that deeply affected him.
As Steven Bartlett notes, the sting of this early setback was profound:
“I cried like a baby – sounds kinda pathetic now, but at that age I didn’t have the context to know it wasn’t the end of the world”
His pursuit of a television career continued at age 18 when he applied to pitch his first business on Dragons’ Den. After weeks of waiting, Bartlett accepted that this particular dream was not going to materialize at that time, adding another layer to his growing list of rejections.
Navigating Further Setbacks in Media and Business
Bartlett’s journey also involved attempts to break into television and radio in his mid-twenties and early thirties. He shares an instance where the BBC expressed interest in him for a TV role, but the discussions ultimately led nowhere. Similarly, an audition for a radio show at LBC, for which he prepared extensively, resulted in no follow-up.
According to Steven Bartlett, these experiences underscore a consistent pattern of doors closing before others eventually opened:
“Clearly radio wasn’t for me either 😅”
It was this persistent pursuit, despite repeated failures, that eventually led to the creation of his own successful podcast, ‘The Diary Of A CEO,’ filmed from his kitchen table. This pivot, born from the lack of opportunities elsewhere, ironically preceded his eventual casting as a Dragon.
The Universal Price of Entry: Embracing Failure
Bartlett’s narrative about Shark Tank USA followed a similar trajectory, involving an initial rejection three years prior before being offered a role this year. He uses these experiences to draw a broader conclusion about the nature of success.
Steven Bartlett argues that the common thread running through significant achievements is the willingness to endure hardship and failure. He posits:
“Embarrassment, rejection, imposter syndrome and self-doubt is the price of entry”
He encourages his audience to reframe their own rejections, suggesting that many ‘No’s’ are merely ‘Not yet’s’ or detours leading to more fulfilling paths. Bartlett’s candid post serves as a powerful reminder that the path to success is often paved with a series of failures and that resilience in the face of embarrassment is crucial.
In Bartlett’s view, the key takeaway for aspiring individuals is the necessity of embracing failure as an integral part of the journey toward achieving one’s goals.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Steven Bartlett on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on August 10, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →