Comments on: The Power of No

By: whitneyhoffman

whitneyhoffman — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:19:12 +0000

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I'm glad it helped, and rereading it again today helped me remember too, that every opportunity is not always something you have to take- it's about making sure you choose what you want to do, what you do best, and feel free to say no to the rest- maybe refer work along to others, maybe help if you can, but No is often a rational and exceptional answer that will keep us sane.

By: FashionMarketing

FashionMarketing — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:44:16 +0000

Whitney, this is a fantastic post. Thank you. No has been one of the hardest things for me, but it needs to be said. I know that I miss opportunities, but something has to give as a professional for client work and family life. Great advice.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:05:06 +0000

Thanks Shawn!

I understand that drawing lines with what is free and sharable and what is proprietary, especially at a community oriented event is tricky, and leaves some people feeling that if you didn’t want to share, you shouldn’t have presented at all. But in the end, I think your story goes towards proving the point that people generally value what they have to work for, and don’t always value free. I am looking forward to reading Chris Anderson’s new book, Free, for just the reason- to see his take on it.

By: Shawn Christenson

Shawn Christenson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:05:10 +0000

Great post!

I once gave away MOU templates online. I got a lot of requests to make more specific ones for people. over 10,000 downloads and only 1 thanks.

I began selling those same templates – 98 sales and 15 ‘Thank You’s

I wasn’t there Linda, I don’t even know who Chris is. But it comes down to his right to say ‘No’. Why should he have said in the beginning ‘Take Notes cause I’m not gonna give you my presentation’. I’ve Never Ever made that assumption, that I had the right to a presenters presentation.

Thanks for writing this – I think we may see a bit of a meme cultivate out of this.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:59:56 +0000

I do think Chris said it in response to people asking who came in late, but that’s really besides the point.
The tools that Chris uses are also besides the point- it’s the way he uses them where his talent and skill shine. He essentially took his toolbox out and showed his elegant hammers, chisels, and wrenches, and then put them away again.

I don’t always see teachers giving their lecture notes to students, and I saw this in a similar light. It’s up to those present to take responsibility for their own learning, and not always depend on the smart kid in class or on a room mate for the notes. And it’s in this vein that I think setting boundaries and saying “no” from time to time may teach a lesson about opportunity costs and responsibility for one’s own learning that can be invaluable as well.

By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:23:10 +0000

Fabulous blog, Whitney. Thank you for writing this inspired piece. I’m bookmarking this and sending the link out to everyone I know!

By: LEMills

LEMills — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:45:21 +0000

I was at that event when Chris said “No,” and I’d beg to differ with your assessment.

His “No” was said at the end of his presentation to people who *were* in attendance, who made an effort to be there. “No” was said after he spoke, with no pre-established warning to be sure to take notes, during an event that was up to that point one of camaraderie and conviviality. Most importantly for me, “No” was said with what I can best describe as a smirk.

Perhaps some may think it clever to answer a simple request so curtly, but I translated it as a rather uncomfortable game of “gotcha.”

If that’s social media, then so be it, but it certainly is worth noting that “worth” runs in two directions: all that little situation revealed to me was a speaker who held himself much higher than the rest of the people who showed up that morning. Each of them had a story to tell, and each of them deserved far more respect than they got.

-Linda Mills

By: Whitney

Whitney — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:51:08 +0000

I agree. I think the problem is that some people in social media have become reluctant entrepreneurs, and they have a hard time gauging what their services are worth, causing some devaluation and people assuming any old geek will do, so to speak. Now that there’s starting to be a level of expertise in the field, I think the valuations will get to be easier.

That, and business models that actually work for entrepreneurs.

By: Jeremy Tyrrell

Jeremy Tyrrell — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:59:42 +0000

I get a lot of people trying to convince me of the value of the exposure their business brings mine, in exchange for lower prices or free services. That argument didn’t work well for me when at 21 I tried to convince my local GM dealership to give me fleet pricing on my first car based on the next 20 I might buy over my life time.

The promise of potential is best realised within – if I don’t understand my own value or the value of my brand, then you probably shouldn’t want any part of it, especially for free.

By: What Happened To Accountability? | Altitude Branding | Brand Elevation through Social Media

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:37:59 +0000

[...] this post by Whitney Hoffman on the power of “no” stopped me in my tracks. And it made me reflect on the fact that [...]