The next time someone says no, remember this.
When you invite someone to give, and they say no, remember this:
A no is rarely ever…
PERSONAL
Don’t take it personally. It probably had way less to do with you than you imagine.
Try not to overestimate your influence on their giving decision.
Just as most people give for THEIR reasons, most decisions NOT to give are for THEIR reasons, as well.
PERVASIVE
One no doesn’t mean everything else in your life or at your organization is falling apart. Look around and see the good.
Don’t project one person’s no onto everything else around you. For everyone who says no, someone else is saying yes.
Our lizard brain wants us to see a no as a sign of impending doom rather than the one-time isolated event that it is.
PERMANENT
A no today doesn’t mean no for all time. It may not even mean no tomorrow.
When someone says no, you have an opportunity to show them that you see them as more than just an ATM.
Someone says no to your invitation to give? What else can you invite them to do to deepen their connection to your cause? How else can you show them gratitude for their other contributions?
Unless someone specifically tells you they never want to hear from you again, a no is simply an opportunity to establish trust, continue the relationship, and deepen their connection to your cause.
You can and should learn from every no, but remember… very few no’s are ever personal, pervasive, or permanent.
