The decision to reject the offer was stressful, as many believed we should sell the company, and I realized I hadn't effectively communicated our mission to the team. Turning down Yahoo's billion dollar offer was painful because it led to a significant loss of trust within the company, resulting in many employees leaving due to a lack of belief in our vision.

During a challenging fundraising round, I once offered to return investors' money because I believed in the long-term vision of Discord over short-term gains.

I turned down an acquisition offer from a clothing startup because I saw so much potential in Gobble and wanted to focus on solving a real problem in the meal kit space.

Since turning down the offer, I've faced much harder decisions that required betting on the company's direction or investing billions, where the outcomes weren't clear for many years.

I turned down lucrative offers from the music industry because I didn't want to betray the trust of those who connected with my music, which was born from my own struggles with mental health.

I wish I had sold the big dream more effectively during fundraising, as I was too focused on being a good founder and delivering on promises.

I turned down a $12 billion offer from Microsoft because I felt that we had a unique opportunity to create something special and control our own destiny.

After rejecting the offer, I focused on hiring people who were committed to the long-term vision of the company.

Turning down lucrative deals that didn't align with my values has built trust with my audience, allowing me to say no more confidently now.