The Power of Saying No (and Not Spiraling About It) in Sales
When you first start in sales, there’s this unspoken rule: turn every no into a yes. Wear them down. Win them over. Be charming! Be persistent! Be so likable they can’t resist!
I tried that. I smiled, nodded, overextended, and agreed to things that made me want to hide under my desk.
And here’s what happened: I ended up with the wrong clients, the wrong deals, and an inbox full of dread. Saying yes out of fear doesn’t build a business. It builds resentment. (And occasionally, an autoimmune disease.)
These days, I say no more often. Not because I’m jaded. Because I know what works for me, and I trust that the right people will stick around when I stick to my boundaries.
Here’s what I’ve learned, the hard way:
A strong no is more magnetic than a desperate yes.
The right clients won’t flinch when you set limits; instead, they’ll respect you more.
Boundaries don’t ruin relationships. They reveal the right ones.
Saying no isn’t rejection. It’s self-respect. It’s a strategy. And honestly, it’s how I’ve built the kind of business I actually like showing up to.
