The one word that is not helping you

Hey friends,

If you say “sorry” a lot, it's costing you respect.

I used to think I was being polite.

I wasn’t.

I was slowly teaching people not to take me seriously.

Most “sorry” moments are not mistakes.

They are habits.

But first, a quick build-in-public update…

❌ Why I Stopped Saying Sorry

This used to be my default.

Sorry for the question.

Sorry for the idea.

Sorry for the follow up.

Even when I did nothing wrong.

I thought it made me polite.

It actually made me smaller.

Last month, when I spoke at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai about building and selling digital products, I noticed something.

On that stage, in front of thousands of creators, I did not apologize once.

Not for my ideas. Not for my experience. Not for taking time.

I spoke clearly. I paused when I needed to. I let the silence sit.

And people leaned in.

Here is what hit me after.

Confidence is not about volume. It is about ownership.

No one invites you to speak on the same stage as the biggest creators in the world because you shrink your voice.

They invite you because you stand behind what you know.

Here is the part I want you to hear.

You do not need a massive audience to speak with confidence.

You do not need a perfect title.

You do not need permission to take up space.

You just need to stop apologizing for things that require no apology.

That shift is small.

But it changes how people see you.

More importantly, it changes how you see yourself.

That is the same shift I teach.

That is the same shift we build inside creatyl.

And that is what I will walk you through in my free workshop.

Learn more

Quick Heads Up (no pressure)

If you’ve been curious how people are actually using creatyl to turn what they know into finished digital products, this is for you.

This Thursday, I’m hosting a free live session where I’ll walk you through the full process in real time.

Just a simple, clear path you can follow as we build your offer together.

You’ll leave with direction, structure, and something real started.

If that feels like the right next step, join us live. I’d love to have you with us.

👉 Come build yours with me

We say it to sound nice.

We say it to soften the moment.

We say it without thinking.

But over time, it sends a signal.

Confidence isn’t louder words.

It’s clearer ones.

Today we are going to help you master this by using:

‘Stop Saying Sorry - Confidence Starts When Sorry Stops'.

Let’s dive in!

Download This PDF + my Top 90+ Cheat Sheets At Bottom of Email

4 Real-World Ways to Stop Over-Apologizing at Work

1. You keep apologizing when you speak up in meetings

Scenario: You have a good idea, but you water it down before anyone can take it seriously.

Prepare one sentence before the meeting:
- Write down your main point in 10 words or less. This forces clarity.
Open with the outcome, not your insecurity:
- “I see a way we can save two weeks on this.”
Stop talking after you make your point. Silence feels long to you, not to them.
- If someone challenges you, don’t retreat. Ask:
- “Which part concerns you most?”
Questions shift the energy from defense to discussion.

2. You ask for help and feel like you’re being a burden

Scenario: You hesitate to reach out because you don’t want to bother anyone.

Check your thinking first:
- Asking for help is part of your job, not a weakness.
Be specific about what you need:
- “I need 15 minutes to sanity check this proposal.”
Add context so it makes sense:
- “This will help me send it today instead of tomorrow.”
End with choice, not pressure:
- “Does today work, or is tomorrow better?”
Clear requests show preparation.
Vague apologies signal doubt.

3. You made an error and feel embarrassed

Scenario: You want to over-explain because you feel bad.

Pause before responding.
- Emotion first makes things messy.
- Clarity first keeps it clean.
State what happened in one sentence:
- “I sent the draft without the final numbers.”
Immediately follow with the fix:
- “I’ve updated it and re-sent the correct version.”
Then add a prevention step:
- “From now on, I’ll run a final checklist before sending.”
When you lead with solutions, people move on faster.

4. You disagree with your manager but don’t want conflict

Scenario: You think the plan has a flaw, but you’re afraid to push back.

Start with shared intent:
- “I want this launch to go smoothly.”
State the risk clearly and calmly:
- “If we add this now, it could delay us by two weeks.”
Offer an option instead of just criticism:
- “What if we release version one first and test the add-on later?”
Keep your tone steady.
- Slow speech signals control.
If they still choose their path, align and execute.
- Confidence includes knowing when to stand firm and when to support the final call.

1. You Want to Start a Business but Feel Stuck

Scenario: You have ideas, but you keep overthinking and never start.

Pick 3 ideas from the infographic that match skills you already have.
Write one real person who would pay for each.
Now ask yourself:
- “Which one solves a clear problem right now?”
Message one person today and ask if they would find it useful.
Do not build first.
Validate first.
Clarity comes from real conversations.

2. You’re Busy but Your Income Stops When You Stop

Scenario: You trade time for money and feel capped.

Look at the “Sellable Digital Products” section.
Choose one service you already provide.
Turn your process into a simple version:
- A checklist.
- A template.
- A short guide.
Do not create a full course.
- Build version one.
Sell once. Improve later.

3. You Have Ideas but Struggle to Finish

Scenario: You start projects but rarely launch them.

Pick one idea from this infographic.
Go to creatyl.com.
Use the step-by-step tools to outline your offer.
Set one goal: finish a basic version this week.
- Ideas feel exciting.
- Finished products create income.
Structure is what turns one into the other.

Want to read more? Go here to download the infographic.

Here's how you can make it real today:

Step 1: Choose your moment

Think about where you say sorry the most.
Pick one situation you are likely to face today.
That is your focus.

Step 2: Set your trigger

Decide the exact moment you will practice:
- The next meeting you speak in
- The next email you send
- The next time you ask a question
Write this somewhere visible:
- “Clear. Not sorry.”

Step 3: Make one clean swap

When that moment comes:
- Catch the automatic apology.
- Replace it with one direct sentence.
- Say it once.
- Stop talking.
Just one clean sentence.

Step 4: Watch the reaction

After you speak, notice:
- Did anyone react negatively?
- Or did the conversation just move forward?
- Did you feel stronger or more steady?

Step 5: End the day with one line

Before bed, write one sentence:
- “Today I spoke clearly when I ______.”
or
- “Next time I will say ______ instead of sorry.”

AI Prompt: “Act as a workplace communication coach. Help me prepare for one moment today where I usually say sorry out of habit. Your job is to help me replace it with one clear, confident sentence.

My Situation Today: [Describe the exact situation I expect — meeting, email, asking for help, giving feedback, etc.]
What I Normally Say: [Write the apology or soft language I usually use.]
What I Want Instead: [Describe the outcome I want — clarity, respect, faster decision, less over-explaining.]

Provide:

A short breakdown of what I am really afraid of in this moment (in simple words).
One strong replacement sentence that is clear and direct.
A second option that is slightly softer but still confident.
Guidance on tone (how fast to speak, when to pause, when to stop talking).
One body language tip to help me feel steady.
A quick mental reminder I can repeat right before I speak.
One follow-up line I can use if someone pushes back.