No’s Are a Part of the Journey
In life, we will hear the word no. Plain and simple. In fact, we’re most likely going to hear a lot more “no’s” than we do yes. Regardless of the answer, asking for what you want is still very important.
Here’s a simple truth: you and I will never know until we ask.
So, I want you to think about something today…why do some people have trouble for asking for what they want? Here are some reasons I’ve thought of…
Past Stories
Sometimes we take what we heard from our past or our childhood…things like “it’s better to be seen than heard” and “you’re a loudmouth”…and we place that “story” from the past into the here and now. Because of these stories that we start to believe, we remain silent when we should speak up.
Feelings of Unworthiness
Sometimes we equate losing or being told “no” with being unworthy. Consequently, we feel that our opinion doesn’t matter and that we’d be better to not “make waves.”
Thin Skin
Some people are crushed by rejection, and instead of thick skin, they are hurt and become offended by being told no. You and I must have “teflon” skin…it’s imperative that we let rejections slide right off of us!
Examples of Famous Rejection
I’ll be honest here…I’m a recovering “not asker” (I made the word up!). That’s right. For years, my standard answer to questions soliciting my opinion were, “I don’t care” and “whatever you want.” I shied away from asking for things that I wanted for fear that I would hear the dreaded word “no.”
Discovering that many people face rejection was part of my recovery and growth process. Not only are many common people like you and I rejected day in and day out, but many famous people are too.
Here are just a few examples of rejection that may surprise you…
Walt Disney
Walt Disney was fired from a magazine company because he lacked imagination. That’s right! The founder of the “most magical place on earth” was handed his walking papers.
J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling was fired from her job because she was spending too much time on her computer (writing books) and not doing her job!
Madonna
Madonna was fired from a coffee shop for squirting jelly from a jelly-filled donut on a customer! Go ahead, laugh – it’s funny!
Colonel Sanders
Harland Sanders’s secret recipe was rejected 1009 times! Can you imagine if he had given up after the first, second, tenth, or even 100th time? You and I wouldn’t have the opportunity to buy a 12-piece original recipe bucket meal!
Steven King
Carrie, the first book that Steven King wrote, was rejected 33 times before it was finally published. Had he walked away from writing instead of pursuing his gift of prose, you and I may never have been introduced to some best sellers and blockbuster movies, like The Shining, It, Misery, and dozens more!
The moral of the story? No’s are a part of the journey!
The World Says No. You and I Say “Next!”
As you know, I’m a life and business coach and a leader of a very large direct marketing team. I coach my clients and my team members to be prepared for rejection and tell them that there will be many “no’s” on the path to their “yes.”
I coach clients to adopt the mantra “SW-SW-SW”
Some Will,
Some Won’t,
Someone’s Waiting.
I tell them…
It’s time for you to speak up.
It’s time for you to voice your opinion.
It’s time for you to step into your greatness.
It’s time for you to begin asking for what you want!
7 Tips to Ask For What You Want
I want to wrap up by offering you 7 straightforward tips to ask for what you want. These are in no particular order, and one isn’t more important than the other. It’s just a list I came up with to help you out if you need that little boost of confidence!
- Be clear about your request. Don’t be wishy-washy. Clarify, be concise, and make what you want reasonable.
- Don’t “verbal vomit” on people. Don’t pile on the words when just a few will do. I want to go to _____________. I’d like to be home by ___________. I need to leave the office by ______ today. Short and sweet is best.
- Know your worth. You are one-of-a-kind. You are destined for greatness. There is no one else like you, so comparison is not an option. You are more than a conqueror. Speak up, because you are worth it!
- Be prepared. If it helps, make notes before you ask for what you want. Jot them down on paper. Study the words so that you will feel more at ease when it comes time to speak them out loud.
- Know your audience. Know who you are speaking to. What kind of person are they? Are they a “tough sell?” Are they flexible? What time of the day would be best to approach them?
- Be authentic. Be your authentic self when speaking up. People can spot a phony from a mile away. Just be yourself!
- Don’t pout. Move on and remember the Three SW’s (see above).
The moral of the story? No’s are a part of the journey!
Your Homework
It’s time to step out of your comfort zone and look “no” in the eyes and tell it that is has no more control over you. If it helps, adopt the 5 Second Rule. Count down. 5-4-3-2-1 and then speak. And remember…ask.for.what.you.want!
Here’s an assignment:
- Make a list of 3 things that you want to ask for or achieve. Some examples could be: asking for a raise, seeking a promotion, closing a sale, having an uncomfortable conversation that you’ve been avoiding. Whatever they are, write them down.
- Commit to do those 3 things by the end of a week. Do the work, ask the tough questions, and be prepared to be told “no”…I promise, it’s a part of the journey!
If you know anyone struggling with speaking their mind, please share this with them! We need to pay it forward and share our life lessons with those around us!
