PERSUASIVELY SAYING NO
“i'm not interested. repeat until they stop.”
The Lesson
When a persistent salesperson, coworker, or family member tries to talk you into something you clearly won't do, use this magic phrase: 'I'm not interested.' Then repeat it. Why it works: giving reasons invites debate. 'It's too expensive.' They'll offer a discount. 'I don't have time.' They'll suggest a shorter version. But 'I'm not interested' is a statement about YOUR internal state that they cannot argue with. They have no counterargument because you're not making a claim about the product. You're reporting your own feelings. Just keep repeating it calmly until they give up.
Real-World Example
A founder gets constant vendor pitches. Wrong approach: 'We don't have budget right now' (they'll follow up next quarter), 'We use a competitor' (they'll explain why they're better). Right approach: 'I'm not interested.' They push back: 'I'm not interested.' Again: 'I'm not interested.' No reason to debate, no opening to exploit. The conversation ends.
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