Small word. Big impact
Almost 30 years ago, I lived in a small house closely situated to the equally small house next door. In the middle of one summer’s night — windows were open — I was wakened by the woman next door saying loudly, fiercely, unequivocally “NO!" Then, silence. I pondered the meaning of what I had heard, then went back to sleep. The next day, the woman's boyfriend moved out. I have always remembered her No and his leaving. I can imagine the mid-night context of her exclamation, and I am quite sure of the next day's action. A powerful learning. Roughly 20 years ago, I worked with a woman for whom No was the opening gambit of just about any conversation. In a position of influence and authority, she would meet a proposal or request with a No, then follow it up with whatever reasoning she deemed appropriate: Too expensive. Not clear enough. Too soon. Too late. Not relevant. Whatever, it didn't matter, because that No, predictable though it became, in fact, pushed us — c...