Just the other day, I had a chat with an awesome lady who’s knee-deep in the Web3 world. She’s doing some amazing stuff for a Crypto community in the UK, and people can’t stop singing her praises. But here’s the issue: she’s been worried about asking her old client for an increase in payments. What’s interesting is, we had the same conversation about two months ago. Yep, you guessed it—she’s still got that nagging fear of a possible “NO” hanging over her head. It’s like déjà vu all over again.
In my more than a decade of working experience, I’ve stumbled upon the following piece of wisdom: You won’t get what you want unless you ask for it. It’s a simple yet often overlooked truth. Do you desire a shiny new job title? Ask for it. Fancy a heftier paycheck? Ask. Thinking about bumping up your rates? Don’t be afraid to communicate your worth. The worst thing that can happen? They might just tell you “NO.” But guess what? A resounding “NO” can be strangely liberating.
A “NO” is a word that holds power. It’s a fork in the road, a turning point that forces you to make decisions. You can opt to stay in your current job, or you might gather the courage to make a daring exit. If a client slaps you with a “NO,” it might be your cue to let them go. And when rejection comes with constructive feedback, you can use it as a blueprint for improvement. It’s the word that propels you forward, pushing you to change something.
Being terrified of that “NO” and not mustering the courage to ask for what you want is like indulging in procrastination. You see, as long as you remain in the dark, you don’t have to make any decisions. Ignorance is, in this case, bliss, or so it seems.
I recently had a deep dive into the concept of procrastination with a therapist. What causes it? How can one overcome it? After a lengthy conversation, we unearthed some truth. In my case, procrastination is driven by a self-sabotaging mindset. It’s a defensive mechanism. If I don’t take action, I can’t fail. And if I can’t fail, I won’t get hurt.
But here’s the kicker: such a mindset won’t pave the way for success, either personally or professionally. That’s why I’ve made a conscious choice to embrace the word “NO” rather than cower in fear of asking. It’s time to let go of that self-sabotage, step out of the comfort zone, and boldly seek out what you truly desire. Remember, every “NO” is a step closer to that resounding “YES” you’ve been waiting for.
