The worst they can say is no.

[mizkit]

I have no idea when my mother first told me, “You can ask. The worst they can say is no,” but it was certainly long enough ago that it’s become an irrevocable part of my attitude toward life: Always let the other guy say no.

You would be *amazed* how much you can achieve by asking.

Which brings me immediately into Amanda Palmer’s TED Talk:



Watch

Comments

[mevennen]

I agree with this. I quite often expect the best of people and this is generally reinforced - sure, there are a lot of assholes out there, but in general, people often come up trumps. My mother always said 'don't ask, don't get,' too.

[bellinghman]

Hmm, it's almost as though what goes around comes around. Approach other people in a generous frame of mind and that so often gets reflected. Reap as you sew and all that.

(Which is why cynicism is such a destructive attitude.)

[suricattus]

I wish I COULD expect the best of asking. I may have been too battered by humanity, at this point, and I've seen that They can do a lot worse than say just no...

That said, "no" loses much of its power after the third or fourth time the dream gets broken and you keep breathing. I've learned to look for the person(s) who says Yes rather than anticipating the No. Which is a dissimilar but related philosophy, I guess.

[saare_snowqueen]

"Publishing works that way too....." You just made my day. I got a rejection yesterday for a story I'm really keen on.

Time to start the rewrites. I think I can make it better.

[jasondrake]

I wasn't able to throw in on your Kickstarter because of timing, I had just started a new job after being unemployed for a while and my first paycheck was *just* after the closing date.

I did order a physical copy of "No Dominion" off Amazon, as soon as the general public could so that counts? sort of?

[silkiemom]

Huh. I wonder how you teach "Always let the other guy say no" or if it's something you're born with.

Kate started to go out for the freshman soccer team, but then quit trying. "I won't make it anyway. I'll just look stupid." We tried to get her to make them say no, but that was too hard. This is currently driving me crazy, because there are so many things you're expected to fail but take a shot at anyway (Reach college, frex.).

Maybe telling isn't enough. Maybe I'm too cautious and my kid is just modeling me. :P

Sorry, tired and rambling. And misreading the tag as "philosphy of Kit".