Really. It’s ok.
You didn’t hire me or my company to work with you. It’s fine.
Too be honest, you’re not the first.
And you don’t have to give me the reason, either. It probably came down to cost, or personality clash, or timing, or something else. Unless I just did a terrible job of presenting what my company can do for your company, it really doesn’t matter.
See, the thing is, I’m an entrepreneur. It doesn’t make me better than anyone, it just means that I couldn’t survive unless I learned how to hear no. And hear it often.
So, we don’t have to be awkward and we can still look each other in the eyes. I don’t take it personally, and neither should you.