If you ever had parents, then at some point in your childhood you may have heard the word, NO. When you heard that word you may have cried, threw a temper tantrum, or just did things your own way. Either way you knew, afterwards, that NO was not the final answer and your world was not ending. Now let’s fast forward and think about hearing the word NO in our adulthood and even in our business. When you hear NO you should immediately know that it’s not the end all to be all but an opportunity for you to search for alternative means and even methods to have your vision executed.
In the 15 years that I have been in and out of business I have heard the word NO so many times that if I charged I would be a millionaire. Unfortunately, I didn’t think of monetizing my NOs so I had to learn to find alternative solutions to continue going. You have to keep going and find alternatives to your NOs because some times people just don’t understand your vision.
Here are four things that NO could mean:
- NO is not a dead end. When you finally realize that NO is not a dead end you will become invincible. That simply means you will gather yourself and look for others who might be interested in your company.
- NO means opportunity. You read that right. The word NO simply means that you have to find an alternative to move forward with your idea, thought, plan or concept. Most NOs lead to an opportunity. You just have to remember to search for the opportunity.
- NO means re-strategizing. When you hear NO from a company or individual that you want to work with, that doesn’t mean they are not interested that means that you may not have clearly addressed their needs and issues. So take this NO and go back to the drawing board by identifying their needs and wants first. It’s also a time for self-evaluation to determine how you presenting your company or business ideas. There is always room for improvement.
- NO means NO to them only. If you have went to the same company or individual several times and they continue to say no to you, then you can either find another person who can help you execute your vision or find a similar organization to help you execute your mission.
When faced with a NO you have realize where the NO is coming from, how it came about and what the alternatives are. You should never just stop because you hear a NO, even when you’ve given your all for a YES. The word NO has never kept any great person from accomplishing their dreams because they knew that NO was only a temporary answer. Don’t let NO stop you anymore.
