# 026: Three Times You Have To Say NO: Soft Promotions, Scope Creep, and Burnout
¡Hola Tech Writing Friends!
Are you ready to ditch crappy pay?
Then let’s talk about something that doesn’t get covered in most interview prep guides:
How to say no like a professional, because being a people-pleaser drains your bank account.
If you want to earn more, protect your time, and be seen as a strategic asset (versus a cheap content machine), you have to build the muscle of saying no.
Let’s look at three moments where a firm, clear “no” is not only justified, but 100% necessary if you're serious about getting to 6-figures.
1) Say No to Soft Promotions
If your manager keeps assigning you higher-level work (leading strategy, onboarding others, mentoring juniors), but hasn’t changed your title or pay?
🚨 That’s not growth. That’s a soft promotion.
It feels flattering in the moment, but it’s ultimately dangerous in the long term. You're being asked to do extra work without the recognition or reward.
How to say no professionally:
“I’m excited to grow into a leadership role, and I’d love to talk about what a title and compensation adjustment would look like to reflect that shift.”
2) Say No When You’re Overbooked
Overcommitment isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a recipe for missed deadlines, burnout, and resentment.
If you’re full, say so.
Saying yes when you don’t have the capacity doesn’t help anyone. Your boss or client will respect you more when they know you’re reliable.
How to say no professionally:
“I’m currently at full capacity and want to make sure I’m delivering high-quality work. Can we revisit this next month or look at what to deprioritize?”
3) Say No to Scope Creep
If you're a consultant or freelancer, scope creep is the silent killer of your time and profits.
When a client asks for “just one extra doc” or “a quick extra change” or “a review of something unrelated”—that’s free labor unless you draw the line.
Never start a project without a clearly defined and signed scope of work because if it’s not written down, it’s not enforceable. You’ll have nothing to point to when the client starts asking for “just one more thing.”
How to say no professionally:
“Happy to support this! Since it’s outside our agreed scope, I’ll send over a quick estimate so we can include it as an add-on.”
TL;DR
No soft promotions: you deserve the title + pay match.
No overcommitment: your time is valuable and finite.
No free work outside agreed scope: it’s your business, not a hobby.
Saying no isn’t rude. It’s a signal that you take your work, your time, and your value seriously.
This is how 6-figure writers think.
That’s how you ditch crappy pay.
Get your 6-figures!
¡Hasta luego!
Quetzalli
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