Asking this question will give you an unlimited range of new aproaches to use: maybe smile more, or bribe him with a soft drink, or perhaps offer to do some of his boring work in return for help.

It also helps to anticipate rejection before it has a chance to happen. In case of example above, before talking to colleague I would spend a few minutes in preparation running through possible ways he might reject me. For each possible situation, just keep asking yourself - how must I change my approach to get what I want?

You may not realize, most people just give up too easily because rejection feels so unpleasant. If you reframe rejection to mean feedback it becomes a mental puzzle to solve instead. You will then be able to endure word *No* a lot longer. This endurance will also encourage others to let you have what you want because you just do not seem to take No for an answer!

****Warning: maintain rapport at all times when you use this approach, this new found courage and tenacity is only appreciated by others if you use it with a win-win outlook.****

2. If they give you their name, talk to them like they are an old friend. I use this one most, and my conversations go something like this:

Telemarketer: Hi, my name is Bob... Me: Bob! You crazy old man, how have you been lately? Telemarketer: Huh? Me: Oh, Bob come on now. You remember me? The quiet kid from Algebra.

This lasts about a minute, with me driving telemarketer out of his or her mind.

3. Pretend you are someone that you're not. Here's how a call went about a month ago between me and a guy from a major long distance company.

Telemarketer: Hello, I am with Big Phone Company. Me: Wait! Shh, I am not supposed to be answering this phone! Telemarketer: Sir, Me: I said shhhh! You don't seem to understand. I don't even live in this house. Now, I am going to put this phone down so I can steal this stereo...

This I have only used about four times. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of all telemarketers use autodialers, so they can't exactly pinpoint your phone number. Once I also told person who called that they had called President of United States and were in big trouble, because no one was supposed to have this number. They hung-up in about one second.

4. Just make something up! Use your own imagination. I have one of those sound effects CDs and have used almost every track on CD to throw telemarketers off. I also have a recording of "Who's On First" skit, which I have used as well. Just play it into phone.

If you have worries about using any of these, don't. Remember--they called you. Technically you should yell and scream at them, but hey, why not have a little fun?