I see this advice every now and then and always feel like it's missing a critical addendum:<p><i>if you are only getting rejected for a long period of time, be sure to take a step back occasionally to spot any glaring mistakes you are making in your approach</i><p>Because as much as getting rejected can help you grow a pair, if you keep doing the same thing again and again without building on the feedback you receive, rejection <i>can</i> do more harm than good.
Hey, works for relationships too. Smart people often don't have it the easiest in society, and can tend towards too much reticence and inhibition. You can't get accepted if you don't try. The important thing is that you learn from your non-successes, maintain a positive attitude and more than anything, keep trying.