(The hardest word in English isn’t supercalifragilisticexpialidocious — it’s just “NO”)
I’ve taught Maths for over a two decade — linear equations, quadratic heartbreaks, geometry with sharp angles and sharper students.
But the biggest calculation I ever did wasn’t on paper. It was figuring out how many favours I could give before my sanity turned into an unsolvable word problem.
The Eureka Equation
Let me tell you a secret equation:
I didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur.
In fact, I was just minding my own business — literally no business — just teaching tuitions, tutoring online, and sipping chai while unpaid bills stacked up like Everest trying to reach the Wi-Fi signal.
One fine day, I applied for a school job. A real one.
With ID cards, biometric entry, and enough staffroom drama to fuel a daily soap.
I looked at the salary offer and, with all the grace of a budget-conscious queen, I said,
“Sir, the salary is too low. Even my tutors earn more.”
He squinted, like Sherlock Holmes examining a clue.
“What exactly do you do?”
I cleared my throat, flipped my imaginary CEO hair, and humbly replied,
“I just run a few tuitions… have some tutors under me… and do online tutoring for students in the US under the No Child Left Behind scheme.”
He looked at me the way Newton looked at the apple — like he’d just discovered gravity.
“Oh! So you’re an entrepreneur!”
Entrepreneur?
Excuse me, I thought I was just a tired tutor with Wi-Fi issues and a dream.
But just like that, I was rebranded.
Like Maggi’s new “healthy” version.
Except the ingredients were still the same — me, my whiteboard, and my inability to say one tiny word:
NO.
NO: The Wonder Word I Couldn’t Spell Emotionally
People say the hardest word in English is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
I disagree. At least that one you can sing.
The hardest word? It’s just “NO.”
Two letters. One full-blown identity crisis.
Let me break down my trauma with some real-life math:
🧓 Parent #1:
“Beta, can we get a sibling discount, distant-cousin discount, or oxygen-sharing-in-the-same-colony discount?”
📏 Me: “Sure… take the whole class for free.”
👷♂️ Parent #2:
“Can we get a fee concession? Our house is under construction.”
📏 Me: “So is my retirement plan. But no one’s giving me cement.”
👩🍼 Parent #3:
“You’re more than a teacher… You’re my son’s Mother Mentor.”
📏 Me: “Then I hope I get Mother’s Day gifts and child support.”
🎓 Student:
“Ma’am, can you help me with Chemistry, Physics, Sanskrit, French, and my break-up?”
📏 Me: “Of course! Would you also like fries and a free MBA with that?”
👧 Sister:
“Can you get me water?”
📏 Me: “Only if you solve this quadratic equation first.”
From Doormat to Doorway
Everyone said, “You’re too simple to be successful.”
I smiled. Because honestly, I didn’t even have the energy to argue.
I had five assignments to ghostwrite, six parents to pacify, and one emotional breakdown scheduled for 3 p.m.
But over time — through caffeine, TED Talks, and spiritual encounters with Google Calendar — I realised one thing:
How I Became the Amazon of Free Emotional Services
People walked into my life like it was a walk-in clinic.
Symptoms: Lack of boundaries.
Diagnosis: Chronic People-Pleasing.
Treatment: None. Because I kept saying yes.
Apparently, unless you breathe fire, say NO in 15 dialects, and demand advance payment before conversation — you’re not CEO material.
But guess what?
Saying NO doesn’t make you rude.
It makes you real.
Then Came the Turning Point
I finally realised:
-
NO is not rejection. It’s redirection.
-
It’s not selfish. It’s self-care.
-
It’s not a crime. It’s clarity.
Mathematically Speaking…
If X = My peace of mind,
And Y = Number of people asking for free stuff,
Then:
X ∝ 1/Y
The more I said yes, the less peace I had.
Simple maths — no coaching needed.
NO: My Favourite Startup Tool
Now, I treat “NO” like a startup investment.
Every time I say it, I gain time, energy, and peace of mind — with zero percent guilt and 100 percent ROI.
When a client says:
“Can we get a discount? We believe in karma.”
💡 I say: “I believe in cash.”
When someone says:
“Can you just help with this one small thing?”
💡 I say: “I’ve already helped myself… to a boundary.”
When my sister says:
“Water?”
💡 I say: “Hydrate yourself like the independent woman you are.”
Moral of the Story
I didn’t become an entrepreneur when I started earning.
Or when I hired people.
Or even when someone else called me one.
I became an entrepreneur the day I said NO —
Without guilt, shame, or a PowerPoint presentation justifying it.
So if you’re out there, struggling to find your voice, your worth, or just a peaceful 15 minutes with your coffee mug — try the wonder word.
Just say NO.
And if someone looks shocked?
Smile sweetly and say:
“It’s not personal. It’s just priority.”