Welcome to The Quiet Rich—your weekly email for a quiet mind and a rich life. Today you’re getting the 9 things I’ve completely stopped saying at work.
But first—it’s honestly still sinking in (for both Ben and me) that he’s a #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author. 🥹 And the crazy thing is… it all happened because he decided to start posting on LinkedIn a few years ago.
To celebrate and give back to everyone who supported him, we have some fun news. This Friday, October 30th, Ben and I are hosting a FREE virtual masterclass with the wonderful Colby Kultgen on how to attract your first 10K followers on LinkedIn.
If we started over with zero followers today, we’d follow the exact playbook that we’re giving away. This is the only time we’re running this masterclass.
Can’t make it live? Register anyway, and we’ll send you the recording. But if you tune in live, you’ll get $200 worth of free bonuses!
👉 Save your spot here for free. 700+ very cool people already registered.
CONTEXT
You know how people say "sorry" all the time for things that don't need an apology? (I'm looking at you, Brits. 🫶)
Here's the problem: Our words create our reality. The more we unnecessarily apologize, the smaller we make ourselves—both in our own eyes and in the eyes of others.
Think about it. When someone apologizes multiple times in a meeting, what's your impression of them? Probably not "wow, what a confident leader..." And if we say "sorry" every time we speak up on a work call or bump into a table, we dilute the power of the word when we actually do owe an apology.
Here’s what to say instead:
METHOD
9 powerful reframes:
1. Sorry for rescheduling → Thanks for being flexible!
2. Sorry to bother you → Thanks for carving out time.
3. Sorry for venting → Thanks for listening.
4. Sorry for running late (by a few minutes) → Thanks so much for waiting.
5. Sorry I had to take that call → Thanks for your patience!
6. Sorry for jumping in → I have an idea that may help.
7. Sorry for the typo → Thanks for catching that!
8. Sorry, I don’t get it → Could you repeat that? I just want to be clear.
9. Sorry, does that make sense? → I’m happy to answer any questions!
WHY IT WORKS
Starting a conversation with gratitude sets a completely different tone than starting with an apology. One positions you as confident and appreciative. The other positions you as apologetic and small.
But there's something deeper happening here. When you constantly apologize, you're subconsciously telling yourself that your presence is a burden. That your questions are annoying. That your needs are inconvenient. (None of which is true, btw.)
Over time, this shapes how you see yourself. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Gratitude flips the script. Instead of shrinking yourself, you're acknowledging the other person's kindness while standing firmly in your own worth. You're saying: "I belong here. My voice matters. And I appreciate you." And that is quiet confidence.
So how do you actually build this habit? Because knowing these reframes isn't enough.
The first step: awareness.
Forward this email to a friend or partner and ask them to gently interrupt you whenever you apologize unnecessarily by asking: "What are you sorry for?"
That's your cue to laugh, pause, and rephrase with "Thank you for…"
Do this consistently for just two weeks, and you'll notice a shift—not just in how others respond to you, but in how you feel about yourself.
And before you know it, you’ll be filled with quiet confidence.
All my love,
Jade
📚 What I’m Reading:
If you liked this newsletter, you’ll enjoy the new book from my friend Vanessa Van Edwards. It’s called Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone & Make Every Interaction Count and it has so many verbal swaps, power questions, and other goodies!
And if you want to go deeper on quiet confidence, my friend Cory Allen just released a new book called The Quiet Age: Creating a Calm Life in a Chaotic World. It’s a lovely meditative guide featuring short, poetic reflections to slow down and quiet your mind.
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