Some reasons why a ‘maybe’ or a ‘no can be as good as a ‘Yes!’.
1. Perhaps you like to help people. Perhaps you’re a Real Estate Agent who helps people find the right home. Or a writer, who writes valuable content for your readers. Or a used Car Salesman who helps people find the right car. Who knows, you might even sell Crypto, or be a Life Coach.
2. All of these pursuits can be challenging, especially as you develop new skill sets and/or strategies.
3. Regardless of how persuasive or talented you are, not everyone will be ready to buy.
4. Sometimes they decide to take a flyer instead of buying the whole farm; the way someone tears off your phone number at the bottom of an advertisement you hang on the bulletin board in the supermarket.
5. That’s O.K, in fact, it’s wonderful! If you walk by the sheet of paper and one is tore off but there are nine more, don’t get discouraged! Someone took your number. Your ad made them curious. Rejoice over the one they took, don’t focus on the ones that haven’t been taken yet. Be grateful!
6. Similarly, while we all love to hear the word ‘Yes!’, it doesn’t always come. But if you’re going to maximize your potential as a human being, you cannot NEED to hear the word ‘Yes!’.
7. If you need to hear the word ‘Yes!’, you’ll be disappointed and lose your cool and gentle spirit that sets you apart. And it’s that kind of spirit that people are looking for. People yearn for that type of spirit, not only in business relationships but all relationships. That’s why I’m the free and easy coach.
8. So, sometimes a ‘No or a ‘Maybe’ can be just as good or BETTER than a ‘Yes!’.
9. When you acknowledge a ‘No’, gracefully and thankfully, you are holding a sacred space for someone and honoring the deepest part of the person you’re in relationship with. You are respecting their decision and choosing to keep on loving them.
10. The same is true of a ‘Maybe’. You are giving the person the time and space to change their mind and/or to decide what they really want. And someone the other person isn’t even an external customer, they might be an internal customer like your spouse or child…your mother-in-law or your Uncle. (I bet you never thought of your family as customers! But when I say they’re a customer, we should serve them like they are the most important people on the planet).
11. And the good news is a ‘Maybe’ might become a ‘Yes’. Or even better news (if what we’re proposing is really true), the ‘Maybe’ might become a ‘No’. And a ‘No’ is great, especially a very firm ‘No’, because then you know exactly where the person’s at.
12. So, even if a ‘Maybe’ doesn’t become a ‘Yes’, that’s o.k. (Sit with that awhile if you have to, and let it marinate).
13. So rather than being bummed, celebrate the ‘No’ and ‘Maybe’, just as much as you would a ‘Yes!’.
14. Learn to do this, and you’ll develop a highly and unusual super-power. In fact, this has been an amazing skill for me as a Life Coach, so try it!
15. Some people see a ‘No’ or a ‘Maybe’ as the chance to drop their client like a hot potato if they don’t get a ‘Yes!’.
16. Meanwhile, loving people with huge hearts, especially Coaches and solopreneurs respect the needs and desires of their clients. They respect the clients right to decide for themself based on their needs and preferences. They don’t assume their client must have poor taste or a lack of intelligence.
17. After all, a clients needs and wants come before our own. They take precedence.
18. That’s not only great morally, that’s the way love works. Love is always concerned about others more than it is concerned for itself. Love is patient and kind. Love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13). Love sacrifices its own wants and desires for the wants and desires of someone else. That’s why your Mom gave you her coat and shivered when you were cold.
19. So, when someone says ‘No’ or ‘Maybe’ and walks away, we have the opportunity to love them even more, not less.
20. And, we continue to love them- even if they never come back. We continue to love them even if they decide to buy a house, or a car, or a coaching package from some one else. If they leave our church and start worshipping down the street, we love them, not as much as we ever did, but MORE.
21. So does that mean we should never care if we get a ‘Yes’. LOL, no!…but wait, then again…maybe!
Very interesting. I never considered looking at the words “no” or “maybe” that way. They always seemed to me as being negative words. You definitely put a positive spin on them! Thanks.
Hi Michelle! It’s great to hear from you! I’m glad that the post was insightful for you! Yeah, when you see them as a ‘not yet’ you are left with hope and the the relationship has space and time to grow.