Generally we don’t like other people to tell us “No.”
But when they do, we reap several benefits:
- Time – We don’t have to wait for an answer anymore
- Clarity -We don’t have to guess what they’re thinking
- Freedom – We are free to pursue other avenues to advance our goals
- Truth – We are spared a misalignment which would happen if the “No” was expressed as a weak or halfhearted “Yes instead
- Learning – We learn what doesn’t work.
And we get one step closer to the next “Yes.”
I respect a powerful no much more than a half-hearted yes or silence.
Meanwhile, “No” does not mean “Stop making offers.”
Better definition: “Not this offer at this time.”
Learn to love the “No,” both when you give it and when you receive it.