Yesterday, a client paid quite a lot of money (flights, hotels, consulting time, etc…) for me to tell them no. They were on the wrong track about something, and they needed to get back on track.
No might be one of the smallest words in the English language, but it’s certainly one of the most powerful. I think we’re often scared to use it, when really it should be our ally, not an enemy.
- It’s ok to say no when you’ve wasted enough time and effort and are on the wrong path. Yes, all of that “wasted” effort is scary, but what’s scary is how much more you might waste.
- It’s ok to say no to an opportunity that just isn’t what you are looking for. If it isn’t a “hell yes,” it should be a no.
- It’s ok to say no even when you’d rather not.
- It’s ok to say no, not right now, no, I’m not quite ready, no, I don’t think this is right.
That’s not to say that no should be your default position – and you should always say no respectfully – but when something doesn’t feel right, just say no.
(PS – You can say no if you want to, but just a quick reminder I have just a couple of media kit packages left. If you work with press and media, advertisers, or sponsors, check it out.)