In my line of work - being an executive assistant - it often falls to me to say "No" to people who are making proposals or asking for favours or wanting some of my manager's precious time.
I had to say "No" a lot this week.
Dear Sir, we unfortunately will not be advertising in your magazine at this time.
Dear Madam, the decision has been made that we will not be participating in this trade exchange at this time.
Dear Madam, we are unfortunately not in the position to sponsor a gift for your high tea. We do wish you all the best.
Dear Sir, we will not be listing on your website this year.
Dear Sir, after some consideration, we will not be utilising your services to increase our company's SEO.
Dear Madam, as we already have a service provider assisting us with this, we will not be taking you up on your proposal.
No.
No.
NO.
NO.
NO.
I was never really at good at saying "no" before, but it's gotten to a point where I can pretty much turn someone down without feeling so terrible now. I guess it's just my job. Someone is doing their job, I'm doing my job, and it's sometimes my job to say that their job and my job are not going to be done together. In other words, "No."
But the best part of my job is when someone comes to me with a proposal or an idea so exciting, so innovative, so too-good-to-be-true awesome that I cannot wait to shove it under my manager's nose and say "Look, look, look what I found, isn't it friggin amazing!?! Can we do it, can we do it, can we, can we, can we???"... and those are the moments I live for at work, the moments that make all the No's worthwhile.... that moment that I can leap from from my chair, throw my hands in the air, and cry out to the heavens "YES!!!!!"
Yup... I love my job. I luh-huuuuv my job.
