Sometimes you just say yes and figure it out later.
Using the “no blink yes” framework (and 30x your business):
Using the “no blink yes” framework (and 30x your business):
“Bob” owned a business and did a small amount of work for ABC International, a Fortune 500 company.
When in crisis (and after being turned down by all the known names), ABC asked Bob “can you help us?”
Without hesitation, Bob said yes.
When in crisis (and after being turned down by all the known names), ABC asked Bob “can you help us?”
Without hesitation, Bob said yes.
He then turned to us, his team, and told us what he’d promised.
Our eyes bugged out at the magnitude of the ask and promise.
Before the dust settled, the team had delivered 20x what’d they’d delivered before.
Bob coined the response the “no blink yes.”
Our eyes bugged out at the magnitude of the ask and promise.
Before the dust settled, the team had delivered 20x what’d they’d delivered before.
Bob coined the response the “no blink yes.”
New product?
New service?
New scale?
Yes, yes, yes
New service?
New scale?
Yes, yes, yes
Thousands of employees
Tens of millions in revenue
Bob’s company had grown 30x based on this principle.
Without knowing it, Bob had built a very specific cultural DNA.
As I reflect back, it:
Tens of millions in revenue
Bob’s company had grown 30x based on this principle.
Without knowing it, Bob had built a very specific cultural DNA.
As I reflect back, it:
• Created a common goal
Delivering something new and difficult created excitement, focus, and teamwork.
In our daily work, it’s easy to go 10 different directions.
A difficult goal requires people to come together and work as a team.
Delivering something new and difficult created excitement, focus, and teamwork.
In our daily work, it’s easy to go 10 different directions.
A difficult goal requires people to come together and work as a team.
• Created a kinship
Bob wasn’t always liked, but he expected that.
When we cursed him, we cursed him together.
That tension resulted in:
• camaraderie among the team
• a prove-you-wrong mentality
Bob wasn’t always liked, but he expected that.
When we cursed him, we cursed him together.
That tension resulted in:
• camaraderie among the team
• a prove-you-wrong mentality
• Built a sense of pride
People take pride in doing things others can’t or won’t do.
It became part of our DNA—we’d attack challenges no one else dared try.
People take pride in doing things others can’t or won’t do.
It became part of our DNA—we’d attack challenges no one else dared try.
• Fostered creativity
Difficult problems require you to think differently.
Hard things help you find creative solutions.
Difficult problems require you to think differently.
Hard things help you find creative solutions.
• Pushed people to achieve the impossible
Companies 100x our size had said no to the ask from the Fortune 500 CEO.
Until we’re asked, we never know what we’re truly capable of.
Companies 100x our size had said no to the ask from the Fortune 500 CEO.
Until we’re asked, we never know what we’re truly capable of.
For years, I couldn’t figure out how it worked.
Then I came across The Goldilocks Rule.
The Goldilocks Rule states that “humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities.”
Then I came across The Goldilocks Rule.
The Goldilocks Rule states that “humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities.”
The “no blink yes” isn’t for everyone or every situation.
So how do we know when to apply it?
Here are 4 questions to ask:
So how do we know when to apply it?
Here are 4 questions to ask:
1. Do you have the right expertise?
Bob said yes because he had the training and knowledge to make it work.
Had he done it at that scale? No.
But his baseline knowledge gave him the confidence to work through those problems as they came.
Bob said yes because he had the training and knowledge to make it work.
Had he done it at that scale? No.
But his baseline knowledge gave him the confidence to work through those problems as they came.
2. Do you have a prior relationship?
It’s important you:
• analyze the cost of losing the client or relationship
• set the expectation of performance upfront
If it’s likely you’ll not fully deliver, but the client knows it, the effort is still rewarded.
It’s important you:
• analyze the cost of losing the client or relationship
• set the expectation of performance upfront
If it’s likely you’ll not fully deliver, but the client knows it, the effort is still rewarded.
3. Do you have prior experience?
Bob hadn’t done THAT, but he’d done similar things.
The right similar experience is enough to convince you yes will work.
Bob hadn’t done THAT, but he’d done similar things.
The right similar experience is enough to convince you yes will work.
4. Do you have the right team or resources?
A team of resourceful and experienced go-getters will thrive in this environment.
This is why it’s important to hire people who are better than you, period.
A team of resourceful and experienced go-getters will thrive in this environment.
This is why it’s important to hire people who are better than you, period.
The “no blink yes” can go reeeeeally wrong.
Ask yourself, what are the consequences if you crash and burn?
Things to watch out for:
• Stress it causes your team
• The expectations of the client
• When you’ve lost a sense of reality
Ask yourself, what are the consequences if you crash and burn?
Things to watch out for:
• Stress it causes your team
• The expectations of the client
• When you’ve lost a sense of reality
The “no blink yes” is a great strategy for getting results no one (even you) thought were possible.
We’re capable of so much more than we think.
The only thing between you and success is the right yes.
We’re capable of so much more than we think.
The only thing between you and success is the right yes.
Thank you for reading!
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If you enjoyed this, I’d appreciate a follow (@KurtisHanni) and retweet of the first tweet:
Every Thursday I write a newsletter and share 1 framework and 1 financial concept.
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