Man Spends 47 Years Learning To Say 'No,' Finally Masters It, Immediately Says Yes To Everything

Gary Yesman, 52, has spent 47 years trying to learn how to say no to requests, and after completing an assertiveness course, he finally mastered the skill. The course took 47 weeks, during which Gary practiced saying no to his wife, his boss, his children, and random strangers asking for directions. At the graduation ceremony, Gary demonstrated his newfound ability by saying no to the instructor's handshake, no to the certificate presentation, and no to a complimentary coffee. However, within 24 hours, Gary had said yes to 47 requests, including 'will you work this weekend,' 'can I borrow $500,' and 'please drive my kid to soccer practice again.' Gary said, 'I think I forgot why I wanted to say no. Everyone just seemed so nice when they asked.' He is now enrolled in a 'Saying No, Part 2' course.