​

Dear Reader,

One of the biggest challenges I have faced as an entrepreneur is learning how to say ‘NO’.

Not just to people but to low ROI opportunities.

As an entrepreneur, you want to do everything and jump on every opportunity, but that’s not always the best strategy because it distracts you from the end goal.

Saying ‘NO’ can be hard. It can make you feel like you’re missing out, letting someone down, or being rude. It can make you worry about what others may think, say, or do.

But saying ‘NO’ is necessary. It can help you protect your time, energy, and resources. It can help you focus on your goals, priorities, and values. It can help you achieve more, faster, and better.

Sounds amazing, right? But how do you say ‘no’ effectively?

Let me tell you some techniques that you probably not have heard before but are extremely useful :

The sandwich technique.

This means you start with a positive statement, then state your reason for saying no, and end with another positive statement.

For example, you can say, “Thank you for your interest in working with me. I appreciate your offer, but I’m afraid I can’t take on any new projects at the moment. I hope you understand and wish you all the best.”

The alternative technique.

This means you offer a different solution or option that might work better for both parties.

For example, you can say: “I’m sorry, but I can’t attend your event this week. However, I would love to catch up with you next month. How about we schedule a call then?”

The delay technique.

This means you ask for more time to think about the request or opportunity before giving your final answer. This can help you avoid making hasty decisions or feeling pressured to say yes.

For example, you can say something like: “That sounds like an interesting proposal, but I need some time to think about it. Can I get back to you by next week?”

The referral technique (My personal favorite)

This means that you suggest someone else who may be able to help or handle the request or opportunity better than you. This can help you maintain a good relationship with the person who asked you and also provide value to them.

For example, you can say something like: “I’m sorry, but I don’t have the expertise or experience to do this project justice. However, I know someone who does. Let me introduce you to them.”

In this way, you have helped and connected two individuals who could collaborate and help each other with their areas of expertise!

I hope this newsletter helps you prioritize your work and say ‘NO’ to distractions.

If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reply to this email, or DM me on LinkedIn. I would love to hear from you.

Until next time,

Tulika

​