Learning to say no has been essential for my mental health and focus on training.

When an investor says no, founders should believe the no and not the reasons given, as this helps maintain their confidence and focus on their expertise.

When investors say no, be graceful about it; their initial rejection doesn't mean a no forever.

Being judicious about what you say no to is a key productivity hack, often involving disappointing others or missing out on interesting opportunities.

In the exploration phase of life, you say yes to many opportunities, but once you find your focus, you must say no to everything else by default. I have learned to say no to requests that I wouldn't ask someone else to do; if you receive a request that you wouldn't make yourself, you can simply dismiss it without feeling guilty.

I've learned to say no more often, going from saying yes 90% of the time to 99% of the time. It's important to advocate for your own needs and desires.

Understanding the different types of 'no' from investors is crucial; many responses that sound positive may actually indicate a lack of commitment.

Avoid saying you're in on an investment just to keep your options open; be honest about your concerns regarding financing risks instead.

When saying no to a founder, it's best to communicate directly and provide reasons if appropriate, rather than ghosting them.