🛑 How to Handle "Yes-Men" Who Mean "No":
A Masterclass in Clinical Accountability We’ve all dealt with the "Andrew" type. They promise the world on Monday, give you "The Word of a Man" on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, they’re buried under "big projects" and excuses. I recently had to deliver a "Slap" to a client who has been in a cycle of broken promises since October. Here is the context of that exchange and the breakdown of the Relationship Matrix in action. 🧩 The Matrix Framework (A Teaser) The Matrix is a diagnostic tool used to measure a man's state of being. It operates on four stages: • Stage 0: Surviving/Whining – Driven by comfort and avoiding reality. • Stage 1: Easily Replaced – Lacks unique value or leadership. • Stage 2: Self-Sufficient – Takes full ownership of his word. • Stage 3: The Elite – Operating at peak efficiency. The Exchange: The "Slap" vs. The "Rebel" The Slap (My Message): Andrew, we’re done with the excuses. Your words are empty and, quite frankly, pathetic. You are a man who can’t be trusted with his word, and that makes you a liar... You are currently a Burden to everyone in your life. A man who lacks integrity is a weight, not a leader. This is the cancer destroying your life and your relationships. The Rebel Reaction (His Response): I'm gonna be very abundantly clear with you. I understand that you wanna work together... but I'm busy organizing two big projects right now and I don't have time to text you back-and-forth... I will give you a call and I will set the record straight... This is where I'm driving the line. 1. Identify the "Loser Insecurity" When he claims he's "too busy organizing projects" to settle a debt he promised days ago, he is triggering the Loser Insecurity. • The Reality: He uses fake credentials (the "projects") to hide a lack of production. If he were actually a high-level producer, his word would be bankable. • The Fix: Stop respecting "busy" talk. If a man has been "about to blow up" for 4 months but can't keep a simple commitment, he is a Burden, not a mogul.