Stand out and get promoted with these 2 “shameless” hacks

My Grandma Lila was the definition of Shameless.

At 88, she agreed to be a bridesmaid in my wedding and retired as CEO of a financial firm at 92.

Her motto? “No is just an opening offer.” 

She would have liked this illustration based on my book:

When my husband Jon got laid off, Grandma Lila barely blinked.

“They’re doing layoffs,” he said to her. “I’m one of them.”

Grandma Lila got that gleam in her eye. “No is just an opening offer. Don’t sign the paperwork.”

Jon sighed. “I don’t think it works that way.”

She sighed right back. “It works any way you can make it work.”

Instead of walking away, Jon went back to his boss with a counteroffer: “How about I stay on at 10% time—and pay—while I find another job?”

They immediately said yes. A few months later, when the company stabilized, they brought him back full-time.

Grandma Lila understood something most people don’t:

Most things in life are negotiable—if you get “Shameless.”

​Note: This story is straight from my book, Wild Courage. In it, I reveal 9 bold traits—Shameless, Obsessed, Weird, Selfish, Nosy, Manipulative, Brutal, Reckless, and Bossy—that will get you promoted and build influence faster than you ever thought possible.

The Problem

Shame keeps us small.

But being “Shameless”—the ability to stand behind your value without embarrassment—is what moves the needle.

The Big Small Thing

Here are 2 ways to be “Shameless” at work:

1. Drop the “shameless plug” preamble.

Don’t say, “Shameless plug—I created this tool.”
Instead say, “I’m proud of this resource—it’s already helped X people.”

2. Test Grandma Lila’s rule: “No is just an opening offer.”

Before you take no as the final answer, ask again:

• Didn’t get a meeting? Ask, “Is there a better time?”
• Got pushback on an idea? Ask, “What would make this a yes?”
• Got rejected? Follow up later. Circumstances change.

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How This Helps You Get What You Want

When you stop waiting for permission, you take bolder action and get more opportunities—because you ask for them.

Most career advice tells you to be patient and easy to work with.

I say—if you want to get ahead, it’s time to stop playing nice.

Because the people who advance the fastest are the ones willing to break the rules.