February 3, 2006
Love the Word “NO”
What happens when someone says “NO” to you?
The way you answer this question will determine how successful you will be in your career. All of the superachievers I interviewed for Career Intensity never take “NO” for an answer. I am the same way. Some of the best things that have happened to me in my life started with someone saying “NO.
Change is difficult. As a strategist, I am an agent of change. If everything was working well, you wouldn’t need to call me. When I sit down with someone and begin a conversation about his business or career problems I listen carefully for things that can be done more effectively. After much analysis, I report back with some ideas. (I’m simplifying the process). The ideas always involve change.
When I tell someone that they have to change or their company has to change, I almost always hear the word “NO”. Change makes people uncomfortable. The “NO” I receive in response to my recommendations tells me that the person I am working with is alive and has an emotional interest in the solution. After all, if they didn’t care they would just passively yes me to death to get me to shut up.
I earn my money by convincing people to do what’s good for them. I get them mentally past the “NO” inside them that wants to come out. I do this by challenging them to list the reasons why my solutions won’t work. My job is to counter every argument and relate it back to something personal to them. I’m tasked with showing them how my idea is better and how it will make their life better. How it will create more value.
The challenge for you is to do this yourself. The next time you know you should be doing something and that little voice inside you says “NO” make a list of the reasons why you can’t or won’t do it. Then challenge yourself to take that list apart piece by piece. This is the beginning of critical thinking and it can make all the difference in your career. If you look at your thought process objectively and rationally you will open up a world of possibilities for your career and your life.
Filed under: Motivation
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David,
I’ve found success with viewing “NO” as only a portion of the more complete answer, “I don’t kNOw enough yet to commit to that ____ (idea, product, change, etc.).”
The challenge you pose in the last paragraph is a great exercise. Once we can internally assemble, disassemble and redeliver information to our own “I don’t kNOw enough” answers, we can help others get past theirs…and learn to love the word NO.
Another great post. Thanks for reaching and teaching!
Comment by Mike Sansone — February 3, 2006 @ 21:12