Saying 'NO'

We’ll book you in the 4AM flight, said the HR head of the MNC company. 

I paused. Did a quick mental run-up of what that 4AM flight entails. To reach the airport about an hour early (add another 25 mins to be on the safer side) that meant I needed to buffer 45 mins for the journey and 30 mins to get ready. To achieve this, I had to be up by 1.30AM. Then the flight, drive to a hotel nearby to get ready for a meeting at 10AM. There was no way in hell that I would be useful, at least in my full mental capability nor would I be able to last the meetings lined up for the entire day. 

I said, “No”. I’m not going to take the flight and I heard disbelief on the other side. First was a defiant, “why not” and then a pleading, “please adjust”. Having gone through this routine a few times in my life, I was clear that if I had to represent the best version of myself, my company and my skills, I’m not going to compromise and I said it was not possible to take that 4AM flight. The HR manager finally relented and paid the extra Rs. 2000 for a 9.30PM flight which I gladly took. 

In reflection, everybody has their own agenda to run. To save Rs. 2000, this gentleman was willing to ask someone to travel to his facility and be at half his performing capabilities. Does he realise what that could mean to his organisation in terms of under performance, demotivation and lost opportunity, not to speak about the lack of basic civility or human decency? 

Lesson learnt. Learn to stand up for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. And saying ‘no’ is powerful. Use it for the right reasons and it’s liberating. Be the best powerful version of yourself. More power to you. 

When did you last said no and felt like a champ?