The power of no. It is final. It is Final. It brings closure and can sometimes take the pain out of waiting. Let’s step back and think about this for a minute.
What do they really want to think? I see it as a form of no. Maybe the person you asked the question to doesn’t want to tell you no. They like you too much. They think you will get hurt. It’s an easy way out for them. For now! I receive no and I will think about it or answer you later every day of my professional life. I just let it go and move on. There are so many fishes in the sea. I just see it as his way of saying no. I usually end by saying, “It’s not my style to be a pest. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” The power of no pressure is amazing. If they’re really thinking about it and they call me weeks or months later to say, “Paul was ready. Let’s get started.” Those are bingo moments to close on a positive note. It happens to me all the time. This is also the power to do it over them. Don’t lose sight of that.
It’s in our personal lives that “I want to think about it” really gets tricky. It moves on a personal level. It goes from a business decision to a personal decision. One really needs to be adept at asking probing questions at this stage. I have experienced this on a personal level recently and it did not come to a happy ending. It’s much harder to say please contact me when you’re ready with your answer. We are the ones who end up being judged unlike a business decision that often has to do with your product or service.
Business or personal I think a No is the second best answer. It allows us to wonder why. If it’s valid, we move on. If it’s unsubstantiated, we can ask you a few more probing questions. He is not manipulative. It’s just getting to the problem and ensuring the reason for the no. Your client or personal relationship will thank you. It goes both ways. Both parties want closure. All the things to think about when the dreaded “I want to think about it” hits us. Go for the “No”. You may be pleasantly surprised.
