No!

“No!” is a two-letter word that most of us learned to say at two or three years old. As we grew older, for some strange reason, we found it difficult to use the word; instead, adults reply with a three-letter word—“Yes!”—even when we really want to say no.

Hence, this reluctance to say no is the reason for the demise of careers for many professionals. They have been asked to do something that may be unsuitable to their skills, experience, and availability. They said yes when they really wanted to say no just to keep peace with colleagues and superiors. The long-term result only angers colleagues and superiors who will discover your inability to deliver at some future date.

If you’re like many people, you hate to say no. The urge for acceptance ...

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