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The Power of Saying
NO!
PowerPhrases to Refuse What
You Don’t Want
It was an honor to be invited to join the conference’s featured
speaker for dinner and Deb gladly went. She wasn’t hungry, so
she just went along for the company. Deb had a baked potato.
The others enjoyed a several-course meal. The wine and cham-
pagne flowed freely. At the end of the meal, the group decided
to split the bill. Deb’s baked potato cost her $70!
The next day Deb complained to everyone about how
unfair it was—yet her real issue was with herself. She was the
one who went along with the decision rather than to say “no.”
Robert, in a similar situation, told the group,
I’m not comfortable splitting the bill because I didn’t
eat much. I am very happy to pay my portion and a lit-
tle extra. I’m comfortable with $20.Copyright © 2004 by Meryl Runion. Click here for terms of use.