Action Plan Example for Saying No to Nay-Sayers!

Section 9.2: Too Close To Home?

Action plan examples are provided here to help you address people who are not interested in helping you become successful.

Unfortunately, there are many people who fear anyone that might criticize their ambition. If you are one of those people who are uncomfortable with the prospect of hearing negative feedback from a friend, family member or close acquaintance, you need to read this page. 

action plan example

Download Free: Goal Setting for Success eBook

In the following information, you'll learn how respond to the nay-sayers, using our action plan example responses.

It's sad but true that some people create their own most difficult barriers to overcome. They make the mistake of allowing their own fears and insecurities to hold them back from pushing forward toward their true ambition.

It's important that you not allow anyone to affect you in a way that tears down your sense of self worth or causes you to lose enthusiasm for reaching your dreams and achieving a better life.

The only words that can truly impact you negatively are the words you give power to. The words you play over and over again in your mind, both positively and negatively, are the words that always have the greatest impact. So it's very important that you manage what you allow in.

"There is nothing so valuable as one's physical and mental energy, which should be preserved at all costs."

The good news is that you have the power to dictate the quality of your internal conversation. What gets more difficult, however, is when the negative thinking comes from another member of your inner circle.

The words that others speak aloud are not always within your control. People will say what they will, regardless of how truthful or hurtful or just downright mean those words can be. However, you must know with conviction that the negative words spoken by others can only bring you down if you attach meaning to them.

Responding to Nay-Sayers: Action Plan Examples

Too often, we allow what other people say to discourage us from following our best path.

When you hear negative feedback, ask yourself what that person is really trying to accomplish.

  • Do their words reflect a fair assessment of you, or do their words reflect a more accurate picture of that person's lack of self-esteem?
  • Is the person being authentic and trying to be helpful, or attempting to keep you down to their level?
  • What is the individual trying to accomplish by providing you their feedback?

Too often, people who share negative comments do not represent the qualities desired in a supportive friend or family member. Rather, these people are insecure and lack feelings of personal self-worth.

When you understand the motivation behind a person's negativity, it's much easier to let their words roll off your shoulders, missing you entirely, passing you by without any hurt or impact.

While it can be challenging, it is imperative that you minimize the impact of people you've determined are not committed to your well being. You must ignore the nay-sayers, for they represent mediocrity and/or failure. They will never help you rise to a higher place in life.

Obviously, this can be more challenging when the individual is a close friend or family member. The first thing you can do is to stop asking for advice from these people. Secondly, if they offer advice on their own that is not helpful, simply ask one or more of the following action plan example questions:

  • "What is the purpose of your comment?"
  • "By telling me that, what are you trying to accomplish?
  • "Are you telling me this to support my efforts? If so, how?

By requiring nay-sayers to be accountable for their comments and to think about why they are giving you negative feedback, they might not be so comfortable in offering unhelpful comments in the future. You must teach them how to treat you.

Of course the easier approach is to simply avoid talking about your dreams in front of anyone who is not interested in supporting you. Just simply change the subject.

"The goal we hold in our mind is the model which shapes our lives, and its character is reflected in everything we do."

- Orison Swett Marden

Success Lesson #20: Vitality Sappers

The man (or woman) who would make the most of life must learn "to be good to himself;" that is, while he should strain every nerve to develop himself to the utmost, he must remember that his success will depend very largely upon the care he takes of his success-machine - himself.

Too many so called successful men and women are their own worst enemies. They would never think of abusing an animal or any other living creature, yet they do this to themselves.

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."

- Zig Ziglar

They push themselves to exhaustion through overwork; they go without eating properly; they deprive themselves of sleep or well-earned recreation. Yet, they cannot understand why their greed for money is not rewarded to the extent they feel entitled, as a reward for their sacrifice.

Lack of sleep; lack of exercise in the fresh open air; lack of nourishing food or engaging conversation with friends and family; overwork; doing our work with a feeling of drudgery - all these things are leaks that sap our energy and rob us of the great reserve, which enables one to achieve great results and a sense of fulfillment.

"Your energies naturally lessen over time so it's imperative you use your talents today to make the most of your life."

Make the most of yourself! Create a perfect action plan example for others by cutting away all of your vitality sappers. Get rid of anything that would hamper you or hold you back, everything that wastes your energy or cuts down on your working capital.

Always ask yourself, "What is there in this thing I am going to do that will add to my life-work, increase my power, keep me in superb condition to provide the best thing possible for my life?

Download Goal Setting for Success eBook

goal setting ebook

To download our free Goal Setting for Success eBook, simply subscribe to our free newsletter. You will immediately receive a password that grants access to our entire leadership tools library.

Your privacy is important to us. We never share or sell email addresses. 

Next Goal Setting for Success Chapters

Assessments  |  Surveys  |  Games  |  Poems  |  Action Plans  |  Reward Ideas


phone

(503) 970-9777

Email Customer Service

helpsupport@leadership-tools.com

Email Richard
richard@leadership-tools.com

By Richard Gorham
Leadership-Tools.com
2879 Riverwalk Loop, Eugene, Oregon, 97401

Copyright © 2003 - 2023  All Rights Reserved

Terms of Use    |    Privacy Policy