[ojosilva]

Well the quote says "...to almost everything" not "everything, period".

From my experience meeting highly successful people, or whatever that means, meant deducing most of your interactions should have a straight no from you right away after listening attently, many times no eye contact is made (to make it more objectively perhaps). Then that "no" can be a blunt, almost out of place surprising no at the start "I don't like/see it", "not interested", "can't do that" etc. Which should quickly lead the conversation into solving your objections. Think of it as a figure of speech or a Socratic rhetoric. Once your petty or founded objections are resolved your "real no" may materialize as non-rhetoric. Remember, if you are the one saying yes or no it means you have some, if not all, leverage in that interaction.

Like I said, I've seen this from extremely rich, old money, people with whom I've interacted, so it's anecdotal and take it with a punch of salt. It's easier said than done anyway.