In 2022, more than any other year, I heard a lot of No’s from people about working with Paraphrase. It started in the Spring after I’d looked at our various offers between content strategy, copywriting, and design and scrapped them all but two: VIP Experience and Client Attraction Accelerator (CAA).

I simplified.

When potential clients asked for things outside of what we offer like “just copyediting” (with no content strategy or looking at their messaging) or “only a website build” (but no brand messaging), I would explain why we don’t do it that way, how with us their choices are either A or B.

Many of them didn’t like that or want that. Or they wanted it, but felt they couldn’t afford the fee.

During the Summer and early Fall, I talked with people specifically about joining the next cohort of CAA.

It wasn't a good fit. Or they wanted it, but felt they couldn’t afford the fee. Or the timing was off—they were already in an intensive program or prioritizing personal matters.

All the No’s have been tough to process at times.

Professionally I’m at a point in my career where I'm more certain than ever about the value of the work we do for people, confident we’re offering a process and structure for clients that’s uncommon and needed, and 100% sure I’m living my purpose. So getting a bunch of No’s at this stage sent me into spirals of doubt.

Am I really doing the right thing?

Have I structured our services in the best way?

Do I have the pricing right?

Am I talking to the right people?

Am I missing something obvious with the messaging?

The answers have been both murky and crystal clear.

I wasn’t only hearing No, I was saying it, too.

No, I don’t think we’re a good fit.

No, you didn’t make the next round in our hiring process.

No, we don’t work with clients that way.

No, I no longer need your service.

No, it's time to stop. This is good enough as is.

But here’s the thing, on the other side of every No is a Yes.

Yes to way more direct outreach and follow-up this year than I have ever done in the past.

More outreach = more people = more times you’ll hear No. Also… the greater likelihood you’ll hear Yes from people you’d really like to work with.

Yes to stepping up my leadership game.

More leadership = more vulnerability + times to mess it up also a great way to learn how to do it better.

Yes to holding my boundaries.

Defining the line = more times for uncomfortable conversations also excellent for growing self-trust and practicing self-care.

Perhaps I could have just as easily labeled this the Year of Yes. Maybe that’s what I’ll feel like come mid November 2023.

For now, the No’s are what have stood out for me.

The No's broke me open wide. They are what I needed. Because No is a negative word by its literal definition, we assume it’s a negative in meaning.

That’s simply not the case.

Just like “hard” isn’t a bad thing, neither is getting a lot of No’s. In the wake of a No you’re left to consider what the Yes is—

what you want instead,

how things could be,

what you've agreed to or invited in consciously or not,

the space that was created,

or the constraints that required your courage.

If it's felt like a big year of No’s for you too, if you received a No that felt like a sucker punch, or if you said one that had you standing in awe of your own bravery, I’d love to hear it about it.

Have a comment? Or a specific question about what you just read?

Email me—I really will respond. I love getting email from readers, and I’m happy to give you a quick strategy or tip to make sure you’re rocking your message and your marketing feels fun and productive!