Make saying yes easy with a simple, legitimate, yesable proposal

You’re close to a partnership, but weeks keep slipping by. You stop assuming “they’re slow” and ask who actually approves it. Turns out the operations lead likes it, but finance and legal need specific language and a cap on risk. You rewrite your pitch into one short paragraph that a busy finance director can skim: scope, start date, price, and a simple next step.

You add legitimacy. “This mirrors the pilot we ran with Northside last spring and uses the same pricing tier they approved. Market median is within 3%.” You include two references and a tiny clause that lets either side step back at 30 days if predefined metrics aren’t met. The tone is calm, not pushy. You also propose a review date in two weeks to keep it moving without artificial pressure.

A quick micro‑anecdote comes to mind. Last month you sent a dense document and heard nothing for ten days. This time you sent one paragraph and a two‑bullet attachment. You got a same‑day reply with a few precise edits. Your phone pinged, and you smiled.

This method blends clarity and credibility. A yesable proposition removes decision friction—who signs, what the terms are, how to start. Legitimacy gives approvers cover, since they can point to norms and precedents. A fading window keeps focus without coercion. The result isn’t just a faster yes, it’s a cleaner one—easier to implement because everyone knows exactly what they agreed to.

Find out who really approves and what they need to justify yes, then write a single tidy paragraph with concrete terms and a crisp next step. Anchor it to precedents or agreed standards so the decider can defend it upstream, and, if it helps focus, suggest a reasonable review date to decide. Send the simple version first, then attach details for those who want them. Make it easy to say yes, and easier still to put into action.