We’ve all been there: saying yes when we really wanted to say no. It happens all the time, from work requests and invitations, or favors for friends. Saying no can result in offense, awkwardness, and sometimes even trouble with relationships and reputations, so we often choose yes instead. However, in this episode, our guest encourages us to change our mindset. Saying no can actually empower us and should be seen as a valuable skill.

Author Vanessa Patrick graces this episode to teach us the ins and outs of effective no-saying in her book, The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No That Puts You in Charge of Your Life. With experience, research, and sage advice to offer, Vanessa emphasizes why mastering the art of "no" is crucial and how to use our own values to make the right decisions.

Vanessa Patrick, PhD, is the Associate Dean for Research, the Bauer Professor of Marketing, and lead faculty of the Executive Women in Leadership Program at the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston. She has a PhD in business from the University of Southern California and an MBA in marketing and a BS degree in microbiology and biochemistry from Bombay University in India. Patrick is a regular speaker at both academic and practitioner conferences. She lives in Houston, Texas.

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