'I can't do it'

Every year or so I replay James Altucher's genius formulation — which originally appeared in his long-defunct Financial Times column — of how to say no without finding yourself hemming and hawing and abba abba abba-ing.

When someone who's asked you to do something hears this response they're startled and silent.

Then they capitulate without you having to say anything else.

If this doesn't work for you, let me know and I'll cheerfully refund three times what you paid for this advice.