The Fear of Hearing “No”

Why You Should Not Be Afraid to Hear the Word "No"

If you want to succeed in nearly anything, it requires taking some chances. You must overcome the fear of hearing “No” and ask for opportunities. Until you hear “No” three times, you haven’t asked enough. It’s called the “Rule of 3 No’s.” Sylvia Acevedo, the CEO of the Girl Scouts, talked about this powerful rule that has shaped her life on a Freakonomics podcast. It works wonders.

Have you ever tried to say “No” to a Girl Scout selling cookies? It’s really hard! It’s not just that they are adorable and they are tugging on your heart strings – the cookies they sell taste amazing as well! The main reason is that they are persistent. They don’t take the first “no” and quit in most cases.

Most people have a hard time working up the courage to ask even once. Fewer than half of all people can do this on more than just the rare occasion. The numbers drop significantly after the first “no”. Likely fewer than 10% of those who asked the first time can brush themselves off and go back at it.

A third time? Rare cats indeed. Are they just gluttons for punishment or have they learned a true secret of success? It’s more of the latter versus enjoying the rejection. What pushes them past is the knowledge that the likelihood of success actually increases dramatically the more times you ask. They will endure the agony of rejection to achieve the goal.

Find the courage of the Girl Scouts and overcome the fear of hearing “No.”