If you NO You NO.

Last year we heard "no is a complete sentence." THIS year, "saying no is a professional requirement."

Sometimes saying NO is just as hard as hearing it. We've all agonized over having to turn down someone that we wish we could say yes to.

Maybe it's a lead from a trusted referral partner, or your mom's cousin's best friend's boyfriend's daughter, or just a small business owner you want to support but it just isn't a true fit. Hell, MAYBE IT'S ME. 😯

Regardless of which end of the NO you are on, it's a sign of professional maturity to be able to both deliver and accept it with grace.

RIGHT this moment, you might owe someone an answer but it's not going to be one they like. And you're avoiding giving them that answer by reading this instead.

So let me save you some time and heartache if you are:

❌️ turning down a proposal

❌️ not ready for a collaboration

❌️ choosing a different company's product or services

❌️ simply don't need or want it

Take the emotion out of your response, this isn't turning down a second date from your bumble app, this is a professional decision that affects your brand, your team, and your ability to do smart business.

So answer it BUSINESS to BUSINESS not PERSON to PERSON. How? READ ON. You've come this far, you may as well see it all the way through...

You can accomplish this in the next 5 minutes, it's that easy:

💎 Create NO THANKS/ NOT NOW templates.

PRO TIP: use the clipboard on your PC (symbol+V) and text replacement on your phone so you only type 3 characters and the whole message autopopulates.

💎💎 WHY is THIS TIP a GAME CHANGER? Because it gives you permission to simply respond and move on. It removes the heaviness that comes with the emotion of saying no. Because you don't have to think of a reason to say no. the answer is NO. the end.

So use your template, and you're allowed to move forward with no guilt, no excuses, no unnecessary dialogue.

Here's one you can take with you and adjust to your tone of voice:

"I'm glad we got the chance to learn more about each other's businesses. It's not a fit for our business right now, but I'll keep you in mind if circumstances change.

If I come across someone who could benefit from your services, I'll send them your way- do you prefer text or email introductions? Thank you and have a great day!"

"No" doesn't have to feel terrible, but it DOES need to be said to be seen as a professional who can have difficult conversations, the kind of person who you want to be in a mutually beneficial Bizlationship®️ with.

Photo credit: Studio 151 Photography