Let Your Yes Be Yes

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one (Matthew 5:37 NKJV).

One of the quickest ways to build trust is to be a man of your word. As Jesus said, let your yes be yes and your no be no.

But what if you aren’t sure you can deliver on a yes?

But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to Him, “The first” (Matthew 21:28-31a NKJV).

Jesus says the son who said no, but then took action, was more obedient than the son who said yes, but didn’t take action.

The first son under-promised and over-delivered. The second son promised more than he was actually willing to do.

Whenever possible, let your yes be yes and your no be no. That is, just do what you say you’ll do.

But if you aren’t sure you can commit to a yes, then be honest. Commit to something less than the yes. And then, if you can, still deliver the yes. Under-promise and surprise your client by over-delivering.

What do you think?
Joseph