This year, two words can make all the difference. (It works--even science says so.)
One of the best ways to grow your business this year may sound crazy, but it's true: Start saying no more often.
Why? Saying yes to too many opportunities, too many projects, and too many people is a recipe for failure. As entrepreneur Derek Sivers likes to say, "No more 'yes.' It's either 'Hell yeah!' or 'no.'"
The problem is, when most of us say no, it too often turns into a yes. Maybe a friend pleads. Or a vendor begs. Or a customer argues and cajoles and chips away at our resolve until no becomes maybe and maybe becomes yes, and we wind up agreeing to something we wish we hadn't.
Or -- and this is even more likely -- maybe you chip away at your own resolve until you wind up doing something you didn't want to do but you eventually couldn't say no to yourself.
So what is the best way to say no? It's easy: Stop saying "I can't" and start saying "I don't." It works. Science says so.
Here's why.
Researchers conducted a simple study: One group was given a simple temptation and told to say, in the face of that temptation, "I can't [do that]." The other group was told to say "I don't [do that]."
What happened?
Pretty cool, right? It gets better.
Then the researchers conducted another study. Participants were told to set a personal long-term health and wellness goal. When their motivation inevitably flagged, one group was told to say, "I can't miss my workout." Another group was told to say, "I don't miss workouts." (The control group was not given a temptation-avoidance strategy.)
Ten days later, they found:
Not only was "I can't" less effective than "I don't," "I can't" was also less effective than no strategy at all.
Why? According to the researchers, "The refusal frame 'I don't' is more persuasive than the refusal frame 'I can't' because the former connotes conviction to a higher degree. ... Perceived conviction mediates the influence of refusal frame on persuasiveness."
Or in language the rest of us understand, when we say, "I can't," we automatically give ourselves a way out. Sure, I could, but this time I'm choosing not to. Pretty much. At least I think so. But then again, maybe I could...
But when we say "I don't," we're powerful. We're determined. We're not making a choice. What we do -- or don't do -- is based on who we are.
Which sounds more powerful, affirming, and empowering?
"I don't" always wins, because "I don't" leaves no room for argument, compromise, or discussion -- especially with yourself.
How many times have you said "I can't" only to end up doing what you said you couldn't do? My guess is a bunch. That's because other people hear "I can't" and automatically think, "OK, but under what circumstances can you do what I'm asking?"
Most people hear "I can't" as something they can find ways to get around. (Shoot, most of the time when we say "I can't" to ourselves, we immediately start thinking of ways to get around it -- that's why so few people achieve their personal and professional goals.)
But how many times have you said "I don't" and later given in to temptation or pressure? My guess is far fewer times.
Most people won't dispute "I don't," because "I don't" doesn't sound like a decision: "I don't" sounds like a conviction, one that offers no room for discussion or argument.
"I can't" sounds tissue-paper thin because it's a decision based on external reasons or causes.
"I don't" sounds like a brick wall because it comes from deep inside you. It's part of your identity. It's who you are.
How to tap the power of "I don't"
When you really need to say no, simply start saying "I don't." For example:
"We don't offer discounts." You really don't want to offer discounts not only because your margins will suffer, but also because competing on price is a slippery slope you can't afford to step onto. Instead of saying, weakly and almost apologetically, "I'm sorry, but we can't drop our prices any lower," say firmly and with conviction, "We don't offer discounts."
Then, either remain silent and wait for a response or shift the conversation to what you may be wiling to do, like providing a quicker turnaround or extending payment terms or breaking a large order down into smaller shipments.
Use "I don't" to ensure that what must be nonnegotiable remains nonnegotiable and then shift to terms you are willing to negotiate.
"I don't have time right now." Say an aspiring entrepreneur asks, "Can you give me 10 minutes to give me feedback on my idea?" You'd love to say yes to everyone but that's not possible. Saying "I'm sorry, but I can't" immediately results in "But I promise it will take only a minute, so here's what we've done..." and you're trapped. Now you either have to hear him out or be rude. Either way you lose.
Instead say, "I'm sorry, but I don't have time right now. Give me your card and possibly we can schedule a meeting." You'll get a card and then you can say yes on your terms.
"I don't care what other people think." Most of the time, we should worry about what other people think--but not if it stands in the way of living the life we really want to live.
You can't care? Heck with that. Say, "I don't care."
You shouldn't care, because it's your life and there should be only one option: to live it your way.
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