My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Don't Take No From People Who Can't Say Yes
When seeking approval or trying to make something happen, ignore rejections from people who lack authority to grant what you're asking for
Decision Rule
Before accepting any 'no', verify that the person saying no actually has the power to say yes to your request
How It Works
Many rejections come from gatekeepers or low-level employees who default to 'no' because saying yes carries risk for them, but they never had decision-making authority anyway
Failure Modes
Giving up after first rejection without checking decision-maker authority
Getting frustrated with gatekeepers instead of finding real decision-makers
Assuming organizational hierarchy matches actual decision-making power
Example Decision
“When someone says they can't give you a discount, meeting, or opportunity, immediately ask who does have that authority and go to them directly rather than accepting the initial rejection.”