Your NO is Protection

In my last blog-posts and video-clips I explain how and why to argue a strong “No” during the Decision Process.

You may wonder why I point at it so directly – let me explain why:

The strong “No” protects your Yes.

During the Decision Process, once you made the choice, you decided for 1 option and that includes letting go of everything else. You demonstrate and argue the letting go with a strong “no” of everything else.

A “no” is not a decision, it´s part of the decision process. It belongs to the long-run of your decision to reach the goal most efficiently.

Every “No” you say is a protection for your goal, for your Yes for something new in life. It´s pure responsibility you show when saying Yes once, and No to everthing else.

Let me tell you a true story from my past, an experience I made in Barcelona at the International Airport, being on a business trip (Automotive Business), when I had to say “No” to protect myself and my private budget.

It was the kindest “no” I ever said to a stranger, when life was testing me.

I entered the Airport hall to wait for my colleagues who came in later from Stuttgart that day. I was on my own, looking for a friend who said who would come to share a coffee with me. We met in fall 2006 in France when we both took the same French class in Vichy.

I stood there among hundreds of people trying to find her face. Instead, I spotted a guy within the crowd who suddenly was staring at me, actually staring right into my eyes, like I was his target. I looked away immediately and moved somewhere else. A few minutes later I met my friend from Barcelona.

We went upstairs into the Café and chose a table at the balcony. In about 1 hour I would meet my co-workers from Stuttgart so we had time to talk. After a while, I suddenly saw this stranger from the crowd come up the staircase, checking all tables, finally seeing me and walking straight up to our table.

I knew it meant trouble – potentially. I looked at him when he looked at me, again, awaiting what he wanted. I don´t recall his exact words but he wrapped it in 1 sentence when he directly asked me for some money. He officially tried to rob me in front of my girlfriend!

I knew I didn´t like it at all and I knew I wouldn´t allow him to rob me, officially. No! I work hard for my monthly pay-check and I decide what I do with my budget. Not this way! He was dressed quite nice and looked OK to me, so why let go of something I already had better plans for?

Within a second I smiled at him, thanked him for this kind question and told him that this topic is not of my interest at all. He stood there, listened, looked irritated for 1 second, turned around and – left.

He didn´t go to any other table! There was no other target person but me – and he left the scenery of my decision making play. My girlfriend almost slid off the chair, landing under the table – just to demonstrate what she was going through, thou´ she was sitting in the audience!

It´s You who decides what´s OK to take in life and what´s not acceptable. If you do not agree to what is happening to you, you´re allowed to say “no”. Fact. The decision was not the “no” I said, the decision was to keep my budget. I didn´t agree to give away any of my Euros. Not this way.

BTW: a strong-minded “no” is not a loud “no”.

Be a Decision Maker, Be outstanding!

riTA