The Power Of No

Growing old is no fun. You start waking up with pains where you didn't before. You're getting tired too early, and if you manage once in a while to have a late night out, you can feel it in your bones for the next 3 days. At least. Where are the good old days when I could just go to bed at 2AM completely drunk, wake up the next day at 3PM and feel completely fine (almost)?

But it's not all bad really. Especially with business. Getting a bit older (but not too old, eh then you're just a witch) and having these years of experience give you a super power. I call it the Power of No.

There's a good reason why The Power Of No only kicks in later.

I think the origin of this super power comes from the cumulated hours, days, weeks you wasted bent over backwards licking shoes, working for peanuts, giving your nights and holidays for promises, trying to close that one deal, keep that one client, all of that so often with minuscule hopes of returns.

All this wasted time is like a huge mountain you're climbing. It's really hard and takes so much time. But once you reach the top, it culminates to a point where you acquire the most valuable super power of all. Never mind Captain America or Wolverine.

The Power Of No is the self-confidence you've acquired over years of sweat to just say No. To anyone. It's the power to no longer take bullshit from anyone. Even clients. Even prospects. It's like you've been there long enough to know really well yourself, what you're offering, how good it is, and that you are fair with your prices. Anyone challenging you on those points has no way of making you falter like you might have a few years back. You've reached the top of the fucking mountain.

You don't like my product? Hey, fine, no hard feelings. wishing you all the best, and good luck finding something that good at that price.
You want a discount or you're gone? Sorry, we don't deal in low quality products. Here's the door.

It feels great. And you know what's the best of all? People can feel your confidence and it completely anihilates any doubts they may have about you, your company, or your product. Even better, the fact that you're not running after them makes them run after you.

Man, I wish I had known this 15 years ago. But again, things like these coming out of the mouth of a 25 year old-ish may well be taken as unbearable youth arrogance rather than experience and result in the opposite effect.

There's a good reason why The Power Of No only kicks in later.