You’re An Entrepreneur? Well You Gotta Learn To Say “No”!
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If i always say yes, i will make more money - wrong
If i always say yes, i will get more contracts - wrong
If i always say yes, people will respect me more - wrong
If i always say yes, i will be more successful - wrong
If i always say yes, i’ll be the nice guy - wrong
If i always say yes, … ok you get the idea!
If you answer no, or at least take some time to think about what is being offered to you, you might end up making more money, have more free time, and reduce your stress level. Always accepting offers, and saying yes and agreeing, won’t make you more successful, it’s the opposite actually. You need some time to reboot and recharge your batteries. So make sure you know what’s good for you.
Try saying no sometimes, it won’t hurt your business, don’t worry. In fact you may even get paid more for the jobs or contract you take, if you accept the ones you’re genuinely interested in, than if you start accepting every single job you can get. People will take you more seriously. Don’t sell your soul. People will most likely show more respect for you if you stand up and be honest, than if you take the job without really wanting to. While it really ok if you’re willing to “try“, don’t put too much on your shoulders.
Be Selfish - It’s Ok
You don’t have to please everyone! If you don’t want to do this job or accept this contract, just don’t. In the long run, you’ll feel better, because you’ll be accepting only jobs/work you really want. I’ts real fine to be selfish, in the end you’re the one who’s gonna be working, so you might as well work on something you like, than something you don’t.
Weigh The Pros And Cons
It’s always a good idea to think about the pros and cons before you make a decision. This way you’ll know exactly what to expect. Ask questions about the job or contract. What’s in for you, how much will you be involved, how much will you be paid, is it negociable? You need to know the answers to these questions before you say “yes” or “no“.
Learn To Say “no“
It can be insanely hard, but sometimes you just have to. If you don’t feel it, or you think it’s not a good business move, just don’t do it. You’re an entrepreneur, and you have to be able to walk away from a deal without regrets. It is very difficult sometimes. But someone has to do it, and that someone happens to be you! :)
What About You
Do you tend to accept every single job offer or contract? Or, do you usually take some time to think about it before you accept or decline it? Please share you experiences, thoughts and opinions.
If, on the other hand, you’re the one who’s hiring, what do you think when someone say “no“, or when someone says “yes“? If a potential employee or freelance worker says “no” to you, would you contact that person again in the future? Or do you just forget about him/her?
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24 Responses to “You’re An Entrepreneur? Well You Gotta Learn To Say “No”!”
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YES! I’m glad you “get it” Jon.
Sometimes, as an entrepreneur, you have to say yes just to keep the lights on. That usually means you started out too big and bought more than you can sell.
And even though you have to deliver what your customers want to be successful, unreasonable demands can cost you all your margin and paint you into a corner.
At some point you have to say “No, this is what we do. And how we do it.” And then of course, you have to back that up with why it’s best. You have to sell it.
Shane! totally, you summed it up pretty weel! :)
“unreasonable demands can cost you all your margin” and you’re right, you don’t want that. Balancing between yes and no means a healthy business.
I agree with all captioned above. You cant please everyone ands you don’t have to. It is sometimes hard to say no, but then Goddammit, its my choice to which I have a right.
Of course weight the pros and cons before taking a decision, don’t be impulsive. You cant possibly say yes to everything, if you do then you are just about a people pleaser and that wont get you no where. Human beings are selfish by nature, so its ok for me to be selfish at times too.
Some time back I was offered a job, which many called a dream offer ands guess what— I politely declined, people thought I was daft but for me there was more to lose than to gain, money isn’t everything.
Just remember in the beginning we have a choice and then the choice becomes the BOSS. Dont bother for what others say or feel, there will always be two opinions, not all will agree with you and not all will disagree with you, so get up and do what you think is right for you.
Good post mate, take care and Cheers.
Robin, thanx a lot! yep i strongly believe in weighing the pros and cons of almost anything, particluarly in business, since it involves money most often than not, and well, to a certain extent money is important, but gotta keep in mind, it’s not “everything”. I think if you’re okay with your decisions, if it “yes” or “no” doesn’t really matters, it’s the outcome that matters, can a “yes” bring me closer to my goals? then i’ll say “yes”! If it’s “no”, then i’ll say “no” :)
Jon,
Great advice. If I said no more often, I would have time to take long walks with my wife. I would have time to sit and play with my grand daughter more. I think I’ll say no more often. :smile:
Hey Dave! hehe yeah if i said no more often i’d most probably have more free time to enjoy the things i do. Though i really enjoy what i do, more free time is always welcome :)
So true, and this is something you need to learn with age or you will never come anywhere. If you don’t learn to say no, you will end up in an entry-level job working overtime.
And you also need to learn that it is ok to not work 24 hours a day.
Hi LJ, thanx for stopping by. You’re right, working 24/7 is definitely not worth it. and i sure don’t want to work overtime. Though sometimes you have to put double the efforts to make something work, it doesn’t mean double the time :)
That is excellent advice. Having free time and being able to relax from your work is extremely important. Burning out in your job is a horrible feeling.
Hey Church! Yep need to recharge those batteries sometimes, regain focus, and start working again! Burning out is indeed horrible feeling, been there, and don’t want to go there ever again.
I have found that by setting up a schedule for myself based on my goals for the week, month, year, etc. as well as having set down my overall mission and vision for myself and my work, it becomes easier to say no.
If the request does not jive with my goals, then I simply don’t do it.
This is why I’m always committed to my schedule, otherwise you’ll end up tending to the urgent but not important things that come up..
Great post Jonathan!!!
Hi Nicholas, good point there, scheduling and setting goals can make it easier to say “no”. If goals are not well defined, it surely is easier to say “yes” all the time. Gotta be commited!
Very good article - it is much easier to say ‘Yes’ than ‘No’ - just try it out on some people next time.
Unfortunately my luck with the ladies sometimes disproves this theory, but in general it’s pretty sound!
- Martin Reed
Hey Martin, hehe yep i know what you mean :)
Once you start practicing the “art of saying no, but for the good reasons” it really seems easier.
Thirty-eight years ago my mother picked me up after school. Mrs. Litvin stuck her head in the car window and asked if I would do something. I was 11. My mother responded yes.
As she drove away I leaned up, spread my elbows wide on the bench seat, and said “Mom, I’m right here; why didn’t you tell Mrs Litvin to ask me if I would do it?”
And my mother replied: “Okay, next time I will, if you promise to always say ‘yes’.”
I’m not 11 anymore, and my mom’s rules don’t apply to me! Sometimes we just need permission - even to say “no.” Thanks, Jonathan, for granting that.
W!
Hi Wendy, first welcome to SWR, please make yourself at home! :)
That’s a great story, it illustrate perfectly what i had in mind, we have the right to decide for ourselves. either “no” or “yes” are good answers, it all depends on what we deeply want and where we wanna go.
Thanx for replying Wendy!
You got it John.
There’s a difference in being ambitious and over-ambitious.
– Scot
Hey Scot! exactly, ambitious is way fine, but over-ambitious can mean doing more for less.
Thanx for stopping by! :)
Excellent post. Saying yes to a job thats to big is a great way to run yourself out of business :)
Hey James, it’s true, gotta know our limitations (i guess everybody has some) and accept just enough work, not too much. It’s pretty to loose more than you gain.
Thanx for replying! :)
Hey dawg, don’t forget the power and value of being discriminating. We are a reflection of our choices. Not sayin’ yes to everything suggests you are clear and definitive in your choices. It is a reflection of your ability to analyze and evaluate, valuable traits in an entrepreneur.
Our ability to assess opportunity is one of the greatest skills to success. Those who excel in this area will always separate themselves and their organizations from the pack. Saying no, means you know when say yes. Be clear this is a talent not everyone has.
Nice post dawg!
Hey Antman! we are indeed a reflection of our choices, gotta stand up for what we believe in, and assume our choices.
Balancing between “no” and “yes” can be quite difficult, but you’re right, that’s what separates you from the pack.
Thanx for stopping by antman! :)
Its really annoying what someone pressures you into buying something and you just have to learn to say no.
Hey Andy, yep exactly, that’s something one has to learn, cause usually we tend to say yes too often, so saying no can actually be a really good thing (if it’s appropriate)