The Goldsmith cure

Marshall Goldsmith: I love the stubborn, opinionated people of the world, and if we're stubborn and opinionated, a bad habit we have is beginning sentences with "No," "But" or "However."

The first word out of your mouth is "No," you're wrong. "But" or "However" means disregard everything that came before this word.

One of my client's problems was he was stubborn. I'm reviewing his feedback report. He says, "But Marshall..."

I said, "That's free. If I ever talk to you again, you start a sentence with `"No," "But" or "However," I'm going to fine you $20.

He said, "But Marshall..." 20. "No..." 40. "No, no, no..." 60, 80, 100.

It's $420 in an hour and a half. At the end of an hour and a half, you know what he said? "Thank you."