Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect
Do you flinch every time you hear the word no? Living in a society where we’ve been raised that saying no means being rude certainly does make it difficult to give your opinion and set valuable boundaries. The word “Yes” has been engrained in us from a young age, and from that perspective it seems counter-intuitive that by saying no you give yourself the opportunity to empower yourself and harness a positive change in your life.
The power of no is a topic that is coming up more and more of late. Celebrities like Jared Leto and Lady Gaga are harnessing the power of no in a positive way, and so should you.
Why is saying no so empowering? It gives you the opportunity to understand the actual value of your time, to spend that precious time on what is really important to you.
By saying “Yes” all the time, it could potentially end up draining you of all your energy. You stand the chance of spreading yourself too thin, trying to please everyone, and not truly focusing on your own growth, whether it be personal or business.
No gives you that moment of clear choice. It announces something affirmative about you. “No, I will not sign” because I don’t agree with what is written in that document. “No, I will not join your committee, or review your project” indicates that you are committed to a project of your own. “No, thank you” which means I may hurt your feelings, however right now my needs take priority.
Keep in mind that a no is an honourable response. If you feel guilted into saying yes, you will be resentful throughout the process.
Saying no could be the most difficult thing in your life. And at the same time could be the most liberating thing you can do for yourself.
Don’t feel the need to justify your no. Whomever the no is directed at should respect you and your decision.
By harnessing the positive powers of no, it will result in you being more efficient to achieve your goals, to prevent others from taking advantage of you, and allow you to keep true to your values and principles.
Figuring out how to say no is half the battle won. Take a risk this week, step out of your comfort zone, and start saying no. Empower yourself and those around you!
Karen Wessels is the co-founder and COO of VA Connect, a South African virtual assistant platform that provides outsourced administrative support. Prior to establishing VA Connect, Karen spent over 10 years in different sales, marketing & admin support roles. Having worked with MDs, SMEs and professionals, she is very familiar with managing different workloads within tight deadlines. This has equipped her with the invaluable skills required to run a successful VA business. Follow Karen on her Personal Website | Twitter | Facebook | Google+
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by Karen Wessels, founder of SnappSales and VA Connect
Sales really does get such a negative reputation sometimes, and I get it - most of us have a bit of a skewed understanding when it comes to sales, so we would rather steer clear than truly harness our sales powers.